History of Medieval England - Thursday 6th Period: Discussion 2: Dark Ages Britain

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

All right. So we touched briefly on King Arthur of gloriously fake memory, Alfred the Great who actually lived, and Anglo-Saxon Britain. Now it's time to talk.

Your homework, which should sound familiar already is to select a topic from your readings and cut and paste give me at least 100 words. Ready, steady, go.

[[OOC: OCD threads are up, go ahead.]]

Comments

DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Mr. Adama asked a very interesting question on Tuesday (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/522937.html?thread=24636345#t24636345), namely, did the invading hoardes also have different religious beliefs? Answer: Sometimes. One of the things that Alfred the Great was credited with was converting the Scandinavian king of his generation to Christianity, with the unspoken assumption that Christianity would civilise and gentle him. In truth, the cultural clashes between the groups often involved religion, but were more profoundly on tribal lines.

The clearest instance of that is the rift between the Celtic Church and the Church of Rome, who had different criteria for locating Easter in the calendar, leading to one Easter being a week after the other. At the Synod of Whitsby, the Church of Rome's predominance in such matters was unescapably established.

So. We have Norse worshipping Norse gods, Christians who follow Rome, Christians who follow Ireland, and the ever-popular peasant who will pray to anyone who keeps himi alive.

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[swerval_zero]

"I'd be with the equal-opportunity peasants on this one. Except for that they tried to burn me."

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

"At least you escaped," Vala muttered.

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[swerval_zero]

"Sheer luck, that. Locker decided I'd had enough or whatever after they'd set me on fire."

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Vala couldn't help wincing, and giving a slight shudder. "O.K., yeah. Very not-fun."

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"It sounds like you're saying that the religious issues were more important to the ruling class, while the peasants sort of continued doing whatever worked for them. Were they still following a more earth/nature based religion at the time and kind of mixing it in with the Christian beliefs?"

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, people are pretty much the same all over the galaxy everywhere you go. You have some people willing to die for their particular beliefs, but most people will worship whatever keeps them alive. Or shouts "Kneel Before Your God!" the loudest."

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I was interested that they were actively trying to convert people without killing too many, but by subverting their own religion. Taking over their churches, and their holidays, re-naming saints... Within a generation or two in an area, some of the people wouldn't know the difference. But those that remembered, I'd expect, would be fairly disturbed. I can't decide if it was a smart approach or not, but I guess it worked, so...."

Re: DISCUSSION Topic 4: Religion and Learning in Anglo-Saxon Britain

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Think this made a difference later? I mean, do you think England starting out with a lot of beliefs, meant they were more open to re-writing stuff later?"