Religion in Victorian Britain:

institutions and evidencefaithculture and society9C Br

Understanding Religion, historicallydon’t blame the (good) MarxistsInstitution of the Church

•political institution•theology – intellectual history

Robert Webb (1922-2012)modern social and cultural historybelief actually mattersbiography of Harriet Martineau (1802-76)Unitarian and abolitionist

1851 Census of Religion

1. What did it measure?what was surprising?where were people going to church?why?

2. What was it not able to measure?

Faith formalized

In what ways did being a ‘state’ church matter?

in governmentin voting for governmentin lawin educationinformally

Evangelicalism1. What is evangelicalism?

2. Who would have been an evangelical?sociologicallywhich institutionswhat did they want to do?who were some famous ones?

3. Do you think you would like evangelicals?

How do you become a professional Christian?

What was changing in the 19C?1. Secular meaning of professionalism –

institutional manner of defining who is ‘trained’ or not; public status/role

2. Churches as a body – the institutional reflection of God’s laws on earth - their theological texts define specific, unique interpretation

3. Tradition and opinion – human habit, or God’s Will?

Why did/does it matter?

Justification by faith alone ?Biblical injunctions

Ephesians 5:22• submit to your husbands as you submit to the Lord.

Colossians 3:18• wives submit to your husbands

1 Corinthians 14:33-36• women be silent in churches

1 Timothy 2:2:12-13• women keep silent

Hermeneutics or textual criticismthe science of reading the Bible

Exceptionalism• allows only some women

• allows some women

Susanna Wesley (1669-1742)

Challenges from ♀

Vary the place where women teach

Preach to an audience allowed or willing to listen

Associate with power to act- wives and female relatives of clergy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cfMSqAj0o

Justification by faith alone ?Goes beyond: theology/belief

Creation - Fall - Redemption

signs and symbols -- professionalized

Justification by faith alone

Nature biological difference

Nurture identity constructed, shaped by culture, society and

Faithrevealed ‘truth’

Theology regarding womenthrough institutions, belief and

habit17C Society of Friends an element of God’s spirit exists

in every human soul 1853 Congregationalist Church then rescinded – until 1917 1865 Salvation Army ordained both men and women1911 Mennonite ordained a woman1920's some Baptist denominations1936 United Church of Canada 1967 Presbyterian Church in Canada 1974 Methodist Church (UK) 1974 first ♀ rabbi - Jewish Reconstructionist movement1947 (Hong Kong) 70s US, Canada, 1981 (Kenya) 1992 (UK)

Episcopal Church /Church of England and RC?

God loves you

Questions1. Although the CofE declines throughout this period, it remains the

largest denomination in Britain. Why (all) might this be?

2. Can teaching Sunday school to children be considered preaching; how would you define preaching? Why or why not? Why does it matter? [also consider the other strategy – being associated with a man – is that good enough?]

3. Discuss what you think is the best way to measure religiosity in the past. How would you measure that?

4. Since we live in a secular society today [dun, dun, dun, do we??] do we need to understand a past religious perspective? Is it possible even?