The progress of recent books subjects has been from Lady Jane Grey to Bloody Mary's Martyrs to (now) Edward the Boy King. On the second of these (finished yesterday) I have some thoughts to share now. The graphic detail (quoted from John Foxe's 'acts and monuments' - the longest single book in English except the Bible) of how some of these poor folks suffered under Mary could well have been one of the prime motivating factors in galvanising the ordinary English folks against the Spanish representatives of Roman Catholicism. A copy of this was (under Elizabeth the first) chained in each of the CAthedrals and in some churches. A copy of this work was also placed in each of Her Majesties ships (which were used for adventuring, exploring and also fighting the Spaniards) and the stories in them would have been familiar to a large proportion of the (largely non-reading) common people of England.
In Foxe the denial of 'papal supremacy' and 'the real presence' were the 'reasons' for burning 'heretics' under Mary. The author (Jasper Ridley - presumably a decsendant of Nicholas Ridley - where are MARY'S decsendants?!!!!) more than once, offers the catholic and protestant perspectives whilst seeming to 'sit on the fence' (I think he does a good job) . He concludes "It is right that Bloody Mary's martyrs should be remembered today, and we should be grateful to Foxe for his book. The intensity of Mary's persecution instigated the revolutionary ideas of Knox and the Puritans; and Foxe's praise of the common people who suffered under Mary helped to spread the first stirrings of the democratic ideas of the Puritnas which would leave them to challenge the authority of Kings and Queens, and to the revolutionary actions of 1640 and 1649. In its Presbyterian form Puritanism was intolerant, suppressing all religions except Presbyterianism; but Cromwells's Independents were in favour of granting religious toleration except to Roman Catholics and Quakers. After the REvolution of 1688 the policy was established in Britain of toleration for all Christian religions with but discrimination against Roman Catholics, who were still regarded as a danger because of the meomries of Bloody Mary.... But in the twentieth century the persecution of humble individuals by a tyrannical state has been seen on a scale that surpassses the worst persecutions of the sixteenth century; and despite the differences in opinions and language, the martyrs and the persecutors of the twentieth century resemble in many ways the martys and persecutors of Bloody Mary's reign."
Don't let us swallow the lie that RELIGION has been the cause of tremendous trouble and wars in the past. You see, what it was all about (in Tudor times) was not 'the real presence' or 'papal supremacy' - does anything REALLY change if you sign a paper accepting these things after you have had your limbs pulled out of joint? - but really it was about the POWER OF THE STATE TO DICTATE WHAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BELIEVE. This is a very contemporary matter and I remain convinced that 'if you don't know your history you're BOUND to repeat it' - perhaps that is why so little of TRUE history is taught in State schools.....
A friend who visited yesterday, told me of an interview on BBC radio in which a militant muslim made it quite clear that he wants sharia law in place in the UK - using the 'democratic means available to him' was not at all attractive - after all, if you KNOW you are right, why would you make a pretence of consulting the opinions of the masses? (well, except to appease those former-Christian nations whose new god is 'democracy' of course....).
There are, sadly, an increasing number of homeschooling families of my aquaintance who are not only NOT adequately equipping their children to face the overt hostility which will be common to true believers in the future, but who are actually setting their children up for a future outside of the body of Christ. To 'control' children into an outward demonstration of what we believe to be 'Christian behaviour' (including so many little details that the Lord, in His wisdom, DIDN'T put in Scripture - like going to church 3 times a week and attending 'youth meetings' and other age-segreated events) without taking the time (and yes, it takes this most precious of all commodities) to cultivate a two-way relationship with them, dealing honestly with their questions, worries and joys, is not doing our bit to ensure the future of the Church.
My children are my critics, I hope I will grow in not being offended at their gracious criticism of the way I have done things in the past (even when it is obvious to me that they just misinterpreted my words or actions!) and that the Lord will, in spite of my gaffs (concious or unconscious), bring all these dear ones into His Kingdom - not just so that they will 'go to heaven' but so that they will LIVE for Him and bring honour to His Name up to the point they leave this present earthy scene.

I suppose that I am afraid that I might, like the clerics under Mary Tudor, try and impose MY interpretation of the 'truth' on my children and feel like they (or I) have failed if they should be of a different opinion on things. Things like, nutrition, Christian School, church involvement, worship, child rearing etc etc etc. For many years I asked the Lord to make me into the kind of wife He wanted me to be, I was not the only one disappointed at the result. I then added to that the request that He make me into the kind of MOTHER He wanted me to be (more disappointment....). Perhaps I will do better as a mother-in-law and grandmother?!!!

so GLAD to be still learning (thank you LORD for your patience!!!) and continually hoping for change for the better until I shall awake 'and be satisfied with thy likeness' (must go and get my concordance out and remind myself of where that comes from.....)