Simon Schama on Catholicism

This is a clip from the BBC produced series "History of Britain" from 2000.

Episode 6, "Burning Convictions" deals with the time of the rising protestantism in the years 1500--1558.

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

Category:

Education

Tags:

• history
• Britain
• Schama
• catholicism
• empire
• politics

[Huntgoddessfishery]

I'm so glad this is on You Tube. It's a beautiful visual metaphor. I loved these two minutes when I saw them on the DVD. I kept playing them over and over.

I'm so glad that Schama tells the truth about the Roman Catholic Church in England.

Perhaps because he is Jewish himself, and knows about religious intolerance.

To me, this is what the Roman Catholic Church is all about --- beauty, majesty, dignity.

[christophmahler]

I appreciated the imaginative animation - accompanied by suitable music - as well.

I think, that series appears to be rather balanced, when it comes to controversial topics. To talk about the original virtues of the Roman Church might be a sensible task in Britain.

Religious tolerance is adressed in the series indeed - though it was 'protestant' Oliver Cromwell, who was especially credited with inviting Jews back to England - partly for economic and military reasons.

[christophmahler]

That 'beauty' should be an attribute of christian cult can be experienced in this animation.

Though with Klemens Tilmann I would add, that the Roman confession tends to confuse sacrament and dogmatic content - leading to formalism, superficial phlegma - and an emphasis of the Roman patriarchal see - which tends to end up in 'Caesarism'.

But despite these weaknesses, traditions should not be repressed in iconclasm - but rather be probed by every generation - and be continuallly developed.

[jlc123456]

This is a stunning clip. Thank you. Even more impressive, though, is the courteous and intelligent debate occurring in these comments! I've never seen this on YouTube before. What a refreshing change!!

[Huntgoddessfishery]

Thanks for your comment.

However, I don't understand what you mean, and I don't have time to look up all these words whose meanings I don't understand.

Well, anyway, Merry Christmas, and thanks again for the beautiful video.

[christophmahler]

I appreciated this clip as depicting the nature of an iconoclastic movement - that would manifest later in institutions like the Lord Protectorate and in policies like the domination of the New World and its trade routes - despite its constant agitation against tyranny and corruption - and with a zeal, inspired by a fallback to mosaic doctrines.

[christophmahler]

The top-down atonement for military defeats against Islamic invaders by the imperial iconoclasts could not force its ban of icons on a rising monastic movement - which remained adamant about any resemblance with mosaic and islamic customs.

The role of the sensual in christianity had become the difference towards strictly intellectual confessions.

[christophmahler]

I am not a member of the Roman Catholic confession - so this discussion means to me not defending a group interest - but to discuss established concepts.

I realized, that a clip about the Byzantine Iconoclasm would have been less polarizing to other members of a protestant confession.

I simply did not knew any example, which would be as sensitive and imaginative as this one.

[christophmahler]

Thank You.

I find it brave and mature from You to acknowledge this point - rather than to argue for a general imperfection of man.

I respected Your deleted apology - but I missed such a destinct response on my reasons for posting this clip.

[christophmahler]

On the question, 'who can be trusted ?' - I find it difficult to give a general answer.

It seems plausible to me, that any religious person will hardly find common ground with an atheist - as the concept of man is fundamentally different.

German fascists had advocated paganism, which is increasing in western culture - like religious zeal has risen in former colonies around the globe.

I see it as a reaction to forced christianization. Cultural autonomy in a laicistic state could be a solution.