Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
A History
A series of personal perspectives
g
Foreword 6 BC
Quirinius becomes
Aaqil Ahmed, Governor of Syria
and conducts census
Commissioning Editor Religion & Multicultural, Channel 4 c84 BC
Birth of Jesus
Christianity: A History is the biggest project I have commissioned during my time at
Channel 4. Its almost unheard of for a mainstream broadcaster to dedicate eight hours of c28 AD
John the Baptist
prime time television to Christianity in this way. I think its fair to say that its a big risk, but a
begins his ministry;
risk we really wanted to take. he baptises Jesus
c29
and is later arrested
Jesus begins ministry,
Why? Because, of the sheer scale of the project and the complexity of the story at its very and beheaded
preaching: Repent, for
heart. As with all religions, the history of Christianity is not a simple one. It contains dark the kingdom of heaven c32
moments, compromises and great achievements, and features life changing heroes and
Episode 1:
is near Execution of
villains. We feel that now is the right time for Channel 4 to present these stories in a way that John the Baptist
will inform our audience about how this faith has shaped our world, and more specifically, our c3036
Jesus
nation. Crucifixion of Jesus
Two examples of Christianitys impact on our modern world are the Reformation and the c37
Crusades. Without the Reformation we may not have become a Protestant nation with many Conversion of Paul
The Jew
of the characteristics, language and structures we take for granted today. And the Crusades? One
of our presenters, Rageh Omar, argues in his film that weve forgotten its importance in the c4657
west, but that in the Muslim world, the brutality of the Crusades still resonates in the hearts Pauls three
of many Muslims and in the rhetoric of Al Qaeda. missionary
journeys c55
So, Christianity: A History is not just another television series for me its more important Paul writes his letter
Writer Howard Jacobson talks
than that, its a lesson about todays world and an attempt to shed light on the history of a to the Romans
of Jesuss Jewish background, the
faith that continues to shape the destiny of all of us in some way or other. We hope it does c64
continuing rift between Christianity Nero blames
that and that it makes just a few of us think about how we got to where we are today.
and Judaism, and why, despite not Christians for the
believing in God, he thinks knowing religious Great Fire of Rome
66 73
Martyrdom of Paul
history can release us from Great Jewish Revolt
the burden of history.
Contents 70
Jerusalem falls
Episode 1 Jesus the Jew 1 Episode 5 Reformation 17 and the Temple
Howard Jacobson Ann Widdecombe is destroyed
132135
Final Jewish revolt,
Episode 2 Rome 5 Episode 6 Dark Continents 21 Judea and Jerusalem
Michael Portillo Kwame Kwei-Armah erased from maps,
269
Episode 3 Dark Ages 9 Anthony becomes and region renamed
Episode 7 God and the Scientists 25
a hermit his life Syria Palstina
Robert Beckford Colin Blakemore
and actions lie
303
Episode 4 Crusades 13 Episode 8 The Future of Christianity 29 at foundation of
Diocletian orders
Rageh Omaar Cherie Blair monastic movement
burning of Christian
books and churches
Episode 2:
recognition Consecration of
singing words drawn largely from the Old happened had the emotional ground not Basilica of St Peter
to Jerusalem
Testament? Or that the promise of a been laid, had the vocabulary of hatred not built by Constantine
Messiah is Jewish, born out of Jewish been established over thousands of years, the Great over the
330
Rome
longing and distress, and that it means in Christian art and Christian liturgy, insisting tomb of the Apostle
Constantinople
the anointed one, not Son of God? that the Jews were a murderous and therefore inaugurated as the
expendable people, and that it was almost New Rome
331
According to Jewish prophetic books the a Christian duty to get rid of them. Constantine
Messiah would come to liberate the Jewish commissions
Eusebius to deliver
people from occupation and prepare them When I went to Israel to shoot part of this Former MP Michael Portillo turns 335 50 Bibles for the
for Gods kingdom on earth. When Jesus film, I found Jerusalem simultaneously his politicians mind to the stunning Consecration of Churches of
failed to fulfil that promise for the world exhilarating and depressing because the success of Roman Emperor Constantine, Jerusalem Church of Constantinople
was not redeemed, Gods kingdom had not old conflicts have not been resolved. Every the Holy Sepulchre
a man he describes as a master of the
been realised and the Romans remained in place is contested; every stone is the site 337
political arts who, out of a desire to Death of Constantine
occupation he could not be the Messiah. of something sacred to somebody else. 380
For him to become the Christian Messiah You look at it and think: this is a knot that stabilise his empire, resolved the
Emperor Theodosius
St Paul had to invent new meanings for the will never be untied; this is insoluble. fundamental debate about whether makes Christianity
Messianic promise. By a theological sleight Jesus was human or divine. official religion of
Roman Empire 390405
of hand the Messiah became a God, not a But we hope against hope for someone Jeromes Vulgate
man, and the salvation he promised would to solve it for us. Half the world, it seems, translation of the
not be of this world, but of another. believes that maybe, just maybe Obama Greek Bible into Latin
395
will be the man to do it. If you want to know Death of
Much Christian vocabulary has always what Messianic expectation must have been Emperor Theodosius
396430
frightened me by association. Baptism the like in Jesuss day you only have to look at Augustine, Bishop
idea of people being immersed in water and what we are demanding from Obama. Kafka of Hippo, formalises
then emerging in another faith seemed to said Messiahs always come too late. I think Christian theology
me quite alien. But baptism was a Jewish they never come at all: it is the waiting that including the ideas
430 of original sin and
rite. As witness the mikveh, the ritual baths is everything. Death of Augustine just war. His concept
which religious Jewish women still visit. So of the Church as a
when John the Baptist baptised Jesus, he Howard Jacobson spiritual city of God
enables Christianity
476 to flourish after
Traditional date for the collapse of
Fall of Rome the Roman Empire
4 Christianity: A History Christianity: A History 5
showered with riches and endowed
with new churches. Eventually Constantine
established the Church in the West and the
East what has since become the Greek
Orthodox Church a huge achievement. I like
to think about this as a political issue. Why
did Constantine convert? Was this idealism?
Was this a sincere conversion? Was it
politics? I think it has elements of all these.
Christians went
from being ferociously
persecuted to being on
the inside track, showered
with riches and endowed
with new churches.
s a former politician 18. Im now beyond being a lapsed Catholic, Constantine saw that this dispute had the Milvian Bridge and seized Rome.
and a former I think Im an atheist. Every Sunday, when potential to tear his empire apart. So he The Christians, who were about a tenth
Christian, I wanted I recited the Nicene Creed I believe in one not only converted to Christianity, but of the population of the Empire, resisted
to find out why God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven effectively established himself as the head persecution. They had bishops and priests,
Constantine, that and earth bits of it seemed very strange, of the Church and summoned the Council an organisation, an infrastructure a
master of the like the description of Jesus Christ as being at Nicaea to resolve this issue. And its key command structure and it was probably
political arts and of one substance with the Father. resolutions have lasted for 1,700 years. I useful for Constantine to get hold of that. But
leader of a pagan now realise it was defining orthodoxy, which he was a pragmatic man, and didnt try to
realm, chose to This comes from the first Council of Nicaea, meant that it also defined heresy, and over drive pagans out. He cohabited with pagans,
give his thumbs p to Christianity. And what a special conference called by the Roman the centuries the Church has put its heretics particularly in the eastern side of the Empire,
were the consequences of his conversion for Emperor Constantine in 325AD to resolve to the rack, the sword and the fire. When in Constantinople, the city which he
the Roman Empire and for the Christian faith. major theological differences within the Constantine converted, he established modestly named after himself. I like his
Church between those who thought Christ empire-wide toleration (the next emperor, ambiguity; it is wonderfully political that
My father, being Spanish, was a Catholic; was a human being, and therefore couldnt Theodosius I, would make Christianity the he didnt really want to resolve the issue.
my mother was Church of England but be the same as God, and those who said, no, official religion of the Roman Empire) so
religious. I was brought up a Catholic and even though he came down to earth he was Christians went from being ferociously The thing thats uncompromising about
went to Mass every week until I was about still part of God. persecuted to being on the inside track, Christianity in common with Judaism and
Episode 3:
monastery
Constantine because he was unbelievably take any action, it is potentially dangerous 664
at Lindisfarne
successful. The way he handled the Christians when a group comes along and says, no, Synod of Whitby
unites Celtic
and balanced them with the pagans reflects there is only one God and this is an idea
Dark Ages
Christianity with c672
a subtle political mind. He wasnt going to we are prepared to die for. Roman Church Birth of the
make extra difficulty for himself by having
Venerable Bede,
unnecessary religious friction. So from time to time the Christians are author of
persecuted, theyre fed to lions and chopped 684 Ecclesiastical
up by gladiators. But the people think there St Cuthbert elected History of the
People who believe that must be a lot to this religion if these people Challenging Christian theologian Bishop of Lindisfarne English People
their only responsibility is are willing to die for it. Robert Beckford shines a spotlight
c700
to a life after death are People who believe that their only
on the Dark Ages and discovers King Lindisfarne Gospels
Aethelbert whose conversion to Christianity first created and
very difficult to control. responsibility is to a life after death are
brought literacy, law and a connection with
711718 decorated by
very difficult to control. Thats what the Islamic conquest Abbot Eadfrith
Europe. To his surprise, he also uncovers of Iberia
Romans thought about the Christians, and
a dynamic multicultural tradition which 7181492
I dont want to paint an over-idealistic its what we think about extremists today.
picture of Constantine. He was a ruthless, prompts him to rethink the meaning of Reconquista,
English identity. Christendom
expansionist emperor who killed a lot of I think politicians love moderate religion and 793 retakes Iberia
people. This was not a cuddly fellow. You are terrified by extremist religion. Constantine Viking raiders sack
might compare him with a Napoleon or a probably did see that God-fearing people monastery of Lindisfarne 800
Charlemagne one of these huge characters were likely to be more orderly and that Pope crowns
from history who are used to the military putting himself in control of that Church Charlemagne first
way of life and see it as their dynastic duty structure would give him a position of power. 878 Holy Roman Emperor
as well as their personal ambition to expand Alfred the Great
defeats Danes at Ethandun
their frontiers as much as they can. Whats striking is not how much the
[Edington in Wiltshire] c950
Church has changed, but how Constantine and unifes England
established such a firm footing that the Russian Princess
I would say that human psychology is
Olga converts to
probably much the same from age to age. Christian Church of today is recognisably Christianity
954
Its a mistake to patronise the past. We think the Christian Church that he left behind.
Permanent union of
these people are not our intellectual equals Michael Portillo England established 1054
Great Schism:
Eastern and Western
Churches split
8 Christianity: A History Christianity: A History 9
ike most African- before I made this film. At school youre
Caribbean kids of taught 1066, the Industrial Revolution,
my generation, I the Second World War nobody talks about
went to church. the Dark Ages as a starting-point
At my Pentecostal for understanding what Englishness is.
Church they told So I had the opportunity to rethink what this
me I was a child history meant for me.
of God and what
was important was getting ready for heaven, When Augustine came to England as a
whereas at my comprehensive school I was missionary to convert the pagans, King
a black kid and the task was trying to get Aethelbert, in Kent, had a wife, Bertha, who
through the educational system. When I was was already a Christian. He twigged that if
about 14 I decided to take my education you convert to Christianity you dont just
more seriously and use the experience of transform yourself spiritually, you also get
being black in Britain to interrogate the the benefits of Christianity. In the ancient
faith tradition I was brought up in. world that meant literacy, a law code, trade,
and an opportunity to expand the esteem
My first degree focused on politics and and value of your kingdom by engaging with
religion. I got into black theology, a this Europe-wide religion.
discipline that had emerged out of the
civil rights and black power movements Is it political expediency
in North America in the 1960s looking
at how black political cultural nationalism or is it a deep religious
gets mixed with revolutionary Christianity experience that leads
to produce a political faith.
monarchs to convert?
For the last 10 years Ive been writing
about African and African-Caribbean religious Theres always a tension: is it political
traditions in Britain. I am critical of the expediency or is it a deep religious
tendency of Churches to interpret everything experience that leads monarchs to
through a spiritual lens and Ive argued that convert? There were Kings who converted to
you need to understand things economically, Christianity and then went to battle with
politically and culturally as well. no weapons, but just with a cross, thinking
Jesus was going to somehow help them
So for example, if theres a school where win against their fully armed-up opponents.
the African-Caribbean kids are failing Then there are examples like Aethelbert.
educationally, the Church will set up a Our scholars would say his conversion was
supplementary school instead of saying to political expediency not really a spiritual
the mainstream school: we are paying taxes conversion but a sense that there were
for you to educate our kids, not miseducate political and economic benefits to be gained.
them. That inability to translate the Gospel
message into a political and social theory One unique thing about English religious
has limited black Church life. I didnt know a experience is that there is a synthesis
great deal about the Dark Ages in England between the state and the Church, so by
Episode 4:
what it means to be English is set in stone. in the north of the England where the Fall of the Crusader
state of Edessa 1187
Christian Church and the altar are directly
Saladin recaptures
On one level the film is a critique of in front of a mound where the pagans used
Crusades
Jerusalem from
fundamentalism. One of the high points for to bury their dead. Archaeologists skimmed Christian rule
me was going to Lindisfarne and seeing the the top part of the mound and found the 11891192
Third Crusade
Lindisfarne Gospels. These monks in the 8th bodies of single men the monks were buried headed by Philip II
century pulled together images and symbols on top of the pagans, which demonstrates of France and Richard 1215
from the known world to embellish their how Christianity built on top of paganism. the Lionheart of Fourth Lateran Council
rewriting of the Gospels. So what they were Some of those traditions are still here: Rageh Omaar, the war correspondent England among other things
doing wasnt just translation, it was also saying Christmas day and Easter are pagan festivals specifies procedures
who became famous for his reports from Iraq, c12251274 against heresy
to everyone: You are included in this story, in that Christianity built on; even the days of reveals how Pope Urbans interpretation of Thomas Aquinas,
this message of Jesus; you are part of it. the week represent pagan deities. theologian and
Christianity led people to kill for Christ and 13081321
philosopher
traces how jihad as we understand it today Dante Alighieris Divine
Its the first example where we have a I would argue that all religious traditions
dates from the Muslim worlds response to Comedy, an allegory of
multicultural Christianity in England, an are synchronistic; they all are mixed with
the Crusades. the Christian afterlife
attempt to pull together different cultural primary religious beliefs, whether its 13371417
ideas and say that they are part of the paganism in England or animism in other Hundred Years War
Gospel and have a place within the Christian parts of the world. Im not against it, I think
c1350
message. For me thats a counter to attempts thats what Christianity is all about. It brings Start of Renaissance
to link religion to a singular identity, which elements of Judaism into the 1st century in Italy
can lead to ethnocentrism and a kind of ethnic world of Jesus, then Paul mixes them all
particularity us against them. It also together and produces Christianity. 13781423
Great Western Schism
challenges fundamentalism which attempts splits Roman Catholic Church
to fix identity and fix religion by claiming that Making this film was an incredible journey. 1380 1382
things must be read literally, in just one way. Re-imagining what Englishness meant, not as John Wycliffe
translates Old
something narrow and fixed, but as something
and New Testaments
What was crucial was that the Pope which is broad and flexible, and developing 1431 into English
encouraged his missionaries to build on an understanding of England that I feel Joan of Arc martyred
pagan religion, not demolish it. In the comfortable with, has transformed me.
programme we represent paganism in Robert Beckford 1450s
Gutenberg begins
printing the Bible
Episode 5:
Son of king of the the Catholic Church
Europe as the Crusaders went towards the Congo, Dom Henrique,
Holy Land. Today the notion of the Crusades consecrated as
In the minds of quite a lot still impacts on the Palestinian-Israeli first bishop from 1520
Reformation
sub-Saharan Africa Luther
of people, rightly or wrongly, conflict. In the minds of Palestinians the
creation of Israel and the Zionist movement
excommunicated
the occupation of the is tied in with Crusaders, because Jewish
1522
Luther
West Bank and Gaza are emigration to Palestine in the early 20th produces German
century was from Eastern and Western translation of 1520s
effectively the same as Europe. It may have been Jewish and it may Outspoken MP, Ann Widdecombe New Testament Henry VIII
the Crusader settlement. have been Zionist, but this was seen as just describes how her feeling that the Church
sets himself
up as head of the
another Western colonisation. And in the 15251534
of England had lost its focus led to her William Tyndale
Church in England
minds of quite a lot of people, rightly or personal reformation and conversion to translates New
To have any impact on this people need to wrongly, the occupation of the West Bank Catholicism, and why she believes that Testament 1534
start being aware of other peoples histories. and Gaza are effectively the same as the into English Act of Parliament
Martin Luther had no idea of the violence
A Palestinian historian in the programme Crusader settlement. makes Englands break
his campaign would unleash. from Rome official
said that he just wanted a Western audience 1543
to be aware of his history, his narrative of Today it has become very difficult to Copernicus publishes
how he sees the Crusades. Not to accept it, separate religion from politics, but I think it On the Revolutions 1547
of the Celestial Spheres Protestant Edward VI
just to be aware of it. And he would also ask is possible. The vast majority of people do
in the year of his death, succeeds Henry VIII
his fellow Arabs to be aware of the Christian not want to live their lives that way. I think
narrative of the Crusades. I think theres this programme and the whole series shows 1549
too much history and too much of a one- that when politicians, whether in the 10th, Book of Common
1553
dimensional view of the Crusades in the Arab the 11th or the 21st century, mix their idea Prayer published
Mary I becomes Queen.
world, and almost nothing on the other side. of religion, faith and duty with their political A devout Catholic, she
responsibilities, it ends up leading to a has 288 Protestants
1558
People also forget that there is a long- disaster for all of us. Elizabeth I, a Protestant,
burned for heresy
established community of Christians in the Rageh Omaar comes to the throne 1560
John Knox founds
Scottish Presbyterian
Church
16 Christianity: A History Christianity: A History 17
was brought up in a through a period of agnosticism. I came back I jumped at the chance to make this has got to be right now we take it for
very strong Anglican as an Anglican which, possibly, was programme because Im particularly granted that we can all read the Bible. It was
tradition. My uncle was a mistake. The debate surrounding the interested in the Reformation, which tore the a great moment when I went to Wartburg
a vicar, my brother is a ordination of women was the last straw. Church apart. I believe the medieval Church Castle and saw the Luther Bible. He was also
vicar, my nephews just It wasnt about whether it was theologically was in need of urgent and sweeping reform. right to wage a massive campaign against
become a vicar. Church possible (I But Martin Luther was proposing more some of the more corrupt practices in the
and Sunday school didnt think it than just an attack on corruption; Catholic Church. But the tragedy of the
were absolutely taken was); it was all he was mounting a challenge to Reformation was that, instead of being a
for granted as part of about how, if we the very nature and structure of movement for reform from within, it became
my life. My secondary dont do this, were not going the Church. He could never have the tool of politicians and zealots. It set
school was a Roman to be in tune with the modern world. realised it but he was unleashing one of the Christian against Christian; communities
Catholic convent but I felt no inclination To me, the Church should lead, not follow. greatest political and religious revolutions in were divided for generations.
whatever to join the Catholic Church. Europes history. Five centuries ago I could
So 15 years ago I went through my have been beheaded as a traitor or burned There is still a strong core of Protestantism in
When I was 18 I was confirmed into the own personal reformation. The Church alive as a heretic. this country whose adherents actively dislike
Anglican Church but, over the years that of England had abandoned its roots and Roman Catholicism. When the Queen visited
followed, I felt that the Church of England traditions, and seemed immersed instead Luther believed that the Bible Westminster Cathedral, there was a large
was departing from its purpose. It was in the liberalism and political correctness should be accessible to demonstration outside. She wasnt going to a
always compromising; it didnt seem to of the modern world. I didnt feel I all Christians, so he Mass; she was doing no more than going into
know what it believed and always wanted to belonged there any more, so I left translated it into the the cathedral for a service that embraced the
follow current fashions. Later still I went and became a Roman Catholic. vernacular. That Christian faith, not just Catholics.
Episode 6:
James I
weve got together on lots of moral issues in pregnancies, the obsession with sex, I think 1609
the Commons and Ive always regarded him people look round and say, Hang on, some Baptist Church
1610 founded by
as a friend. But even now, after all that has of this has gone a bit too far. But theyve no
Dark
Using the telescope John Smyth
happened in Northern Ireland, he thinks it is idea what to do about it; theyre all islands he has created,
appropriate to call the Pope the anti-Christ. if you like. Galileo proves
Copernicus theory
Continents
that the earth and 1611
If the Reformation had been handled I think the Church has got to regain its
planets revolve King James
differently we could have had all the benefits role in dispensing moral wisdom, in calling (Authorised)
around the sun
of what Luther did and none of the downside. people to account for themselves, in Version of the
I think the sort of gentle reforms weve seen reminding people that there is a judgement Bible in English
in the Second Vatican Council, which have to come, that what we do does matter. The 1620
Pilgrim Fathers
nothing to do with doctrine but everything Anglican Church has backed off there and sail for America
to do with the rules of the Church, are to be I dont think the Catholic Church has, but Writer and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah
on the Mayflower 1625
profoundly welcomed. If only the Reformation the Catholic Church tends to talk to itself. reflects on how the history of slavery is entwined r Charles I comes
had been carried out like that. But Luther with Christianity, and is intrigued by the way, all to the throne
16531658
couldnt control what he unleashed. People are terribly afraid of being over the world, people create images of Jesus Oliver Cromwell
judgemental, of saying, That is wrong, and Mary that look like themselves. ruler of England
if youre doing something wrong. It 1660
The tragedy of the doesnt mean you cant be forgiven or Royal Africa Company
Reformation was that, are beyond redemption, but you are
1673
given a monopoly over
English slave trade
instead of being a doing something wrong. Test Act excludes
Catholics from
movement for reform from That is the message which should come public office 1690
within, it became the tool from the pulpit, but it should also come William III defeats
through the media. The hierarchy of the James II at the
of politicians and zealots. Church should be standing up and saying 1701 Battle of the
Society for the Boyne in Ireland
to Britain, Dont just look at the government,
Propagation of the
The basic tenet of Christianity is: Love thy look at individuals, look at yourselves, what Gospel in Foreign Parts
neighbour. It has inspired tremendous works you are doing is wrong. established 1738
down the years and I dont accept the view Ann Widdecombe John and Charles
Act of Settlement restricts Wesley start
British royal succession Methodist movement
to Protestants in Britain
20 Christianity: A History Christianity: A History 21
have traced my family expressive worship so it didnt really frighten
story back to the West me, but it frightened some of the crew
Indies, to a sugar members. Even though the congregation
plantation, where my was middle class and quite intellectual,
ancestors worked as many of them were not aware of Christianity
slaves for a British having first arrived in Africa via Ethiopia and
master. I discovered that not via the missionary experience.
they had originally come
from Ghana in Africa. At I define myself as an Afrocentric Christian
school I was taught that one who views Christianity through the
David Livingstone was a great hero one of lens of Ethiopia and not Rome. Arriving in
many missionaries who went to Africa as Lalibela in the Ethiopian Highlands was
colonialists to open up the worlds dark amazing. They call it the Jerusalem of Africa.
continents to European civilisation and It is thought that Christianity was brought
convert their heathen inhabitants to here by Greek and Egyptian monks in the
Christianity. But this colonial enterprise 4th century, but some Ethiopians claim their
also enslaved millions of people. faith goes right back to Old Testament times.
Episode 7:
the concept, whatever culture were from. 10 million Christians in 1838
Africa; today there are over Slavery
We are more anti-religion in Europe than abolished
390 million...
God and the
people in the developing world and America. in the
British Empire 1843
I dont necessarily think its a bad thing for
Church of Scotland
people not to believe. I have issues with In 1900 there were just 10 million splits over separation
Scientists
religion, myself. I dont describe myself as a Christians in Africa; today there are over of Church and state
1859
religious man but as someone who has faith. 390 million, and they are beginning
Charles Darwin
to challenge the Western Christian publishes
If I had seen the Creator in someone who establishment, particularly over issues On the Origin
was a Buddhist or a Muslim, I would have like women priests and homosexuality, of Species 18681870
not issues that I agree with. But the real First Vatican Council
been a Buddhist or a Muslim. I saw what I
Eminent scientist and uncompromising defines doctrine of
perceived to be the Creator in someone who challenge is not just about social values papal infallibility
happened to be a Christian, therefore I was but about the faith itself. These new atheist Colin Blakemore is suspicious 1905
able to access the Creator through that lens. Christians have harnessed a powerful
of Christianitys ability to adapt its previously French law
spiritual force which many churches unshakeable tenets in response to the passed on
separation of
Also, in Europe the Church has been in the West have abandoned. challenge of scientific, evidence-based 19141918
Church and state
associated with the state and with the explanations of how the world works. World War I
oppression, or indoctrination, of the masses. They believe that Europe now needs
And so its quite healthy that we view converting to the true faith. I think their 19151917
religion and religious structures as dodgy. proposition is that the West has got too Armenian Genocide
comfortable; it thinks it is its own God. And
Faith for me is very personal; it allows me there is some truth in that. But one can also
1917
to believe in something greater than myself. have an intellectual relationship with faith.
Russian Revolution
When I have done everything that I humanly We have to be careful sometimes not just
can, I perceive that I have somewhere else to see religion as something to make you
to go. Without getting too pompous, prayer feel good I think we can and must apply 1925
for me is like communion, a conversation stringent intellectual mechanisms to faith. John Scopes
convicted of
with my deeper self and what that is
breaking Tennessee
connected to throughout the universe. Kwame Kwei-Armah law by teaching
evolution
Episode 8:
Churches founded
we have concerns for the environment, all of World Evangelical
The interesting question is why people which run against the natural inclinations of Alliance founded
everywhere ask those sorts of questions, human beings. So we do have the capacity 1961
The Future of
and why supernatural beliefs are found in to stand back, but we never completely New English Bible
all human cultures. Its a bit like language: overcome the pressures of our own genes. 19621965 (New Testament)
Second published
all people use language even though the For instance, most people accept the earth
Christianity
exact form of it is different from place to goes around the sun and yet we all describe Vatican Council
introduces
place. The anthropologist, the biologist, the the sun as rising, because thats the way it
many progressive
geneticist, would take the universality of looks. We can live simultaneously with both changes including 1963
language as evidence that its built into our levels of understanding. dropping Good Martin Luther King
genes. So by the same argument you might Friday prayer for leads civil rights
say that religion is in our genes. My own view is that as over the last 500 the conversion march in
years, more and more of the territory that Lawyer and committed Catholic, Cherie Blair of the Jews Washington DC
grapples with the legal and moral dilemmas and makes
How that has happened is a scientific was the domain of religion has been ceded I Have a Dream
thrown up by the genocides and human rights 1968
question which interests a lot of people. to scientific explanation. Well just see that speech
Martin Luther King
It reflects a way we have come to think of process go on. It may take a long time and abuses of the last century. She explains her own
assassinated
each other which is equally flawed but which occur at different rates in different countries, enduring beliefs and assesses how the Church Start of Liberation 1970
works. We think that other people operate their cultures and religions, but there will be an handled the liberalisation of the 1960s. Theology New English Bible
free will, making their decisions because they inevitable trend for science to substitute (Old Testament)
have intentions and desires, but psychologists for the things that religion used to explain. published
and brain researchers increasingly have 1979
Moral Majority
explanations for behaviour that dont refer In the end I think religion will just provide
founded by
to intention. But because the idea of us with metaphors and stories which can Jerry Falwell 1989
intention works so well in communicating be illuminating, telling us a bit about human First woman
with other people, we project that belief nature, providing a historical background to ordained
system on to the world around us. When how our culture emerged but no more realistic 2007 as a Bishop in
Pope Benedict Protestant Episcopal
we see a phenomenon we dont understand and convincing than the Genesis creation
reinstates older Church in USA
we tend to ask intentional questions such story is to most Western Christians now. version of Latin Mass
as Whos done this? What was it done for? including Good Friday
and thats what generates the idea of God. Colin Blakemore prayer for the Jews
g
28 Christianity: A History Christianity: A History 29
Looking back over been to many black churches here in the UK
the last century, and have seen how they stress this community
the two World Wars aspect. In the programme we go to America
had a huge effect and see how churches there are thriving
on peoples views, because theyre very community based.
but as many people
found comfort in When one looks across the country, the
their belief in parishes that are thriving are the ones that
God as blamed God for what had happened. are actively involved in the community.
Although the Holocaust, other genocides, Back in 1998 when we had the G8 summit
the liberation of the 1960s, presented a in Birmingham, the local church that Tony
challenge for the churches, many peoples and I attended in Great Missenden, near
religious faith is still there. In Africa, Asia, Chequers, was very involved with the Drop
South America, in the USA itself, religion is the Debt Campaign. In America we visit
very important. In Western Europe church churches that are working with the homeless,
attendance has fallen but religion, and with drug addicts, with disaffected youth.
Christianity in particular, is still a very We can see lots of examples of practical
important force across the world. Christianity, but thats also informed by
prayer. Part of being a Christian is coming
Survey after survey shows that lots of together in a group and sharing not just
people say they believe in God. But we also activism but also worship.
know that people like me, who go to church
every week, are in a minority in Britain. The
structures of the Church are not reaching out Part of being a Christian
to all these people who believe in God, who
are searching for meaning in their life.
is coming together in a
group and sharing not just
In developing countries people get practical activism but also worship.
help as well as a comfort from the Church.
For example, in his campaign against
malaria, my husband has found that one I believe that God is everywhere and that
of the best ways to distribute mosquito God works through the good actions that
nets is through the mosques and churches, we see people doing in society; but God is
because they are the centres of their also present when bad things happen. One
communities. In Western Europe people question which interests me as a lawyer is
also have troubles. To some extent the about genocide. Thats a moral issue but it
Enlightenment and education have led is also a legal issue. The term genocide was
people to be more questioning, but coined in the 1940s, after the Holocaust at
individuals cant have all the answers. the same time as we tried bringing together
We need to come together, listen to other all the religions and people of no religion to
people and share other peoples ideas. define international human rights. Ever since
then weve been exploring how the law can
We grow as individuals in a community and cope when a society breaks down to such an
thats one thing that churches offer. I have extent that acts of genocide are committed.