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By respecting each other, we can quell any argument about who created
our Earth and all it contains. Over thousands of years in every country of the
world, religions, and the way each person worships God, have changed. Rather
than delve into every religion, I'll concentrate on England and America.
Today, on Good Friday, Christians remember the death of Jesus. Sad Friday, I used to call it.
Christianity emerged in the area
around Palestine and Israel in the mid-1st century AD. Christianity spread initially from Jerusalem throughout the Near East,
into places such as Syria,
Assyria,
Mesopotamia,
Phoenicia,
Asia Minor,
Jordan
and Egypt.
In the 4th century it was successively adopted as the state
religion by Armenia in 301, Georgia
in 319, the Aksumite Empire in 325, and the Roman Empire in 380. It
became common to all of Europe in the Middle Ages
and expanded throughout the world during Europe's Age of Exploration from the Renaissance onwards
to become the world's largest religion.
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In England, Henry VIII made the
first break away from traditional Catholic religion. Born on 28 June, he reigned
from 21 April 1509 until his death in 28 January 1547. He was lord, and later king,
of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English
monarchs to the Kingdom of France. Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is
known for his role in the separation of the Church of
England from the Roman Catholic Church.
Persecuted by the English, the
Quakers left for America. In 1682, William Penn received a grant which the King called Pennsylvania.
The first settlement of Philadelphia quickly became one of the largest in the
New World.
Before the invasion from abroad,
Native American beliefs were deeply
rooted in their culture. Until this day, they believe everything to be sacred
from a mountain to a bee. They honor, love and respect the Creator and Mother
Earth as well as every living thing. The Elders keep the culture alive and
share an understanding that everything is part of the One.
In the early 18th century, many
Amish and Mennonites immigrated to Pennsylvania
for a variety of reasons. A group of traditionalist Christian church
fellowships formed a subgroup of the Mennonite
churches. The Amish are known for simple living,
plain dress,
and reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology.
Today there are 2 billion
Christians, one third of humanity. Christianity divided into the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church in the Great Schism of 1054. The Protestant Reformation split the Catholic
Church into many different denominations.
The United Kingdom has been
through many changes in their spiritual beliefs.
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In Iron Age Britain and France,
Druid priests carried out religious rituals. The Romans, who visited and later
conquered France and Britain, met the nature-loving Druids and wrote about
their beliefs and rites. Although these writings may not always have been
completely truthful, it is clear that the Druids were an important group of
people in many Iron Age societies.
Now days, the United Kingdom respects the different races and religions of all
its citizens.
Representing the rights of all in
1826, the UCL University offered places to students of any race, class or
religion and welcomed female students on equal terms with men. Beforehand, university
education in England was restricted to males of the Church of England. The
university challenged discrimination. Spiritual and moral systems offered by religious
rituals, such as dress, diet and prayer, form an integral part of traditions
and beliefs.
The Jewish faith Judaism continues
its ancient practices amongst the other UK citizens from the world. Their UK
population is the second largest in the world.
Others include: Islam, Bahá'à Faith,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
Where reasonably practicable, the
needs of people from all religious backgrounds, and also of those with no
religious affiliation, are valued. However, nobody should impinge upon the
needs and freedoms of others. Terrorist attacks from one group of believers
against another can never be tolerated. Peace depends on respecting one another.
