Queen Elizabeth II's religious legacy

Queen Elizabeth II (NASA photo)

In the tradition of her namesake, Elizabeth I of England, the current Queen of the United Kingdom is a solid “Defender of the Faith” (the faith being Anglicanism).

After Elizabeth I succeeded her half-sister Mary I (that is,“Bloody Mary” to those she ruthlessly persecuted), Elizabeth I practiced a fair amount of religious tolerance (in other words, she didn’t systematically behead those who differed with her own views).  In sharp contrast to Mary I’s staunch version of Catholicism, Elizabeth I’s Protestantism included interdenominational elements

such as the crucifix.

Elizabeth II, some 400 years later, became “supreme governor” of the Church of England by virtue of her coronation. Thus began what The Christian Science Monitor described as a delicate balancing act between church and state.  During the early years, she reigned over a decidedly Anglican majority.  However, there has been a “marked shift in Britain from a country of largely one faith to that of many faiths – and no faith.”

The Christian Science Monitor also reported that “half of Britons today claim no religious affiliation.”  Not only that, “Africa now has more Anglicans than England does.”   There are currently many British secularists who oppose “their country’s particular mix of church and state.”  (Parliament members pledge allegiance to the queen, and the prime minister appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury.)

During her 1952 Christmas Message, Elizabeth II spoke these words:  “…let us set out to build a truer knowledge of ourselves and our fellowmen, to work for tolerance and understanding among the nations…”  During her 2011 Message, she added:  “Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith.  It can heal broken families.  It can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities.  It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love.”

She continues to work for a peaceful mix – not only of church and state, but also of different religions.  Given humanity’s long history of violence in the name of God, Elizabethan tolerance is far preferable to lethal religiosity.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2012/0601/Diamond-jubilee-of-Queen-Elizabeth-II

http://www.royal.gov.uk/imagesandbroadcasts/thequeenschristmasbroadcasts/christmasbroadcasts/christmasbroadcast1952.aspx

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/8977471/Queen-celebrates-family-in-her-Christmas-Day-message.html

Copyright June 2, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved