Role of Religion in Victorian Life

667 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Victorian society

Role of Religion in Victorian Life Religion throughout history has been a dominating social factor, and in Britain during the nineteenth century, this same religious domination can be seen. The Victorian era was marked by the Church of England which developed such an influence in politics as well as religion that it became difficult to separate the two (Yi 1). The tyrannical power of the church fostered many problems (lack of space, not relating to its people, hypocrisy, etc.) and created an air where a variety of dissenting groups could form and develop (1). The atmosphere of the high church compared to that of the dissenting groups explains why the shift of religion occurred with such a large response. Wealthy (High Church) vs. Middle Class (Dissenters) In the high church, funding came from the wealthy which in turn gave them a piece of the church as property--pews. These pews were branded with a family name and would pass from generation to generation. If the family moved, the pew would remain vacant not open for others to sit in! This left the lower classes to standing r...

Show More
Related

  • Jacksonian Era Bound By Morality

    1978 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many churches were the center of their community in the early-1800s. The church was a place to bind closer relationships with others in the community to include businesses and other social venues. Many public figures had this one thing in common, that is their will of self-perception be defined in the public view as one with character and high moral convictions. Religion produced social morality which became the substance that bound all elements of society in the Jacksonian Era.

    Read More

  • New England Primer Essay

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    A high stress is placed on morals, beliefs and one’s religion which is fine but that starts to leak into the cracks of the democracy component associated with UK’s governing system. Another point to draw is what differentiates “other principal religions represented in Great Britain” from the almost bolded religion of Christianity. As a result, students are breed to be more uniformed. After a religious education, one will be able to give an opinionated justification of whether or not there is a God, whether or not the legalization of drugs should take place, whether abortion is moral for women (Strhan Pg.

    Read More

  • Meeting the Demand for Clergy in Victorian England

    1302 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many new changes came to Victorian England as a result of the age of industrialization. Where there were once small country parishes, manufacturing towns were springing up. One change resulting from industrialization was the shortage of clergy to fill the new parishes in these towns. These new parishes reflect the demographic changes of the English countryside. Rural villages grew into booming towns. Where a single parish was once sufficient, there was now a need for multiple parishes. The Church of England went about meeting these demands for new clergy in two major ways, actively recruiting men to the clergy and restructuring theological facilities and changing the requirements for ordination. These factors show us some of the upheaval and reconstruction that was going on in the Anglican Church in Victorian England. This was a direct result of the need to train a large number of clergy in a relatively short period of time.

    Read More

  • Why did moral reform movements gather strength in the 1830s-1850s and what underlying force or forces gave them strength?

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    Clark, Jr., Clifford E. "The Changing Nature of Protestantism in Mid-Nineteenth Century America: Henry Ward Beecher's Seven Lectures to Young Men." The Journal of American History Mar. 1971: 832-46. Organization of American Historians. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. .

    Read More

  • The Impact of the New England Puritans and the Chesapeake Catholics on the Development of Colonial Society

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many times throughout history, a specific individual or a group comes along and shapes a society. Religious groups often arrive and settle on a new piece of land, and happen to shape that society, around their beliefs and religion. The New England Puritans and the Chesapeake Catholics are prime examples to show how religion shaped the development of a colonial society.

    Read More

  • Religion in Early America

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion and government in England had always gone hand in hand, and if one group’s ideas did not coincide with England’s laws controlling the practice of religion they would be denied. The unification of church and state within European countries led to many wars, resulting in massive debt. As England declared themselves a Catholic country, Protestants who did not hold the same beliefs needed a new homeland where they could be free to worship in their own way. This new homeland was America, and it allowed Protestants, now calling themselves Puritans, to practice Christianity without government interference. While original settlers came to America to create a Christian homeland where they could practice their faith how they wanted, America quickly became a homeland for religious freedom through a mixing pot of differing religions, cultures, and ethnicities, enough open land for them to exist together, and the key idea of the separation of Church and State.

    Read More

  • American Civil War and Religion

    1149 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion of the protestant church was an important factor in the pre-war timeline culture. The Second great awakening, which occurred in the 19th century, greatly impacted American society. This new point of view in terms and matters of faith led northerners to cherish the theory of Christian perfection, a theory that in fact was applied to society in an attempt to eliminate social imperfection. On the other hand, southerners reacted by cherishing a faith of personal piety, which focused mainly on a reading of the Bible; however, it expressed very little concern in addressing society’s problems.1

    Read More

  • Religion in Colonial America

    1514 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion was the foundation of the early Colonial American Puritan writings. Many of the early settlements were comprised of men and women who fled Europe in the face of persecution to come to a new land and worship according to their own will. Their beliefs were stalwartly rooted in the fact that God should be involved with all facets of their lives and constantly worshiped. These Puritans writings focused on their religious foundations related to their exodus from Europe and religions role in their life on the new continent. Their literature helped to proselytize the message of God and focused on hard work and strict adherence to religious principles, thus avoiding eternal damnation. These main themes are evident in the writings of Jonathan Edwards, Cotton Mathers, and John Winthrop. This paper will explore the writings of these three men and how their religious views shaped their literary works, styles, and their historical and political views.

    Read More

  • Puritan Essay

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...y from the Church of England. Puritanism was weakened at its core because of this strict and finicky hierarchy within its church. It drove people away, leaving it in great need of loyal members. “In effect, strict religious purity was sacrificed somewhat to the cause of wider religious participation” (Kennedy, 73).

    Read More

  • Christianity & the Revolutionary War

    1372 Words  | 3 Pages

    From these readings one can discern that Eighteenth-century America was a deeply religious culture. Sermons taught not only the way to personal salvation in Christ but also the way to temporal and national prosperity for God’s chosen people. Timothy D. Hall a professor at Central Michigan

    Read More

  • William Bradford

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is only by accident did William Bradford actually become a separatist in England, however, by the age of 17 he is a “Committed member, sharing the radical idea of separating from the official Church of England.” (Kelso, 20...

    Read More

  • The Great Awakening Essay

    615 Words  | 2 Pages

    The eighteenth-century was a time of tremendous change with North America’s religious history. Colonists rejected the more ascetic forms of Christianity as a result of The Great Awakening. By the end of the eighteenth century, the majority of the colonial regions had developed their own extensive denominations of Christianity due to the failure of the English church. The Church of England was declining and new religions ranged from Congregationalist to Anglican to Lutheran. In addition to the many denominational divisions, churches were manifesting a rupture between rationalists and evangelicals. The rise of the Great Awakening amongst prominent colonists signaled a shift towards a more democratic form of Christianity.

    Read More

  • religious policies of England and France from 1603 to 1715

    1247 Words  | 3 Pages

    Describe the religious policies of England and France from 1603 to 1715. Why do you think rulers feared religious toleration so much?

    Read More

  • Changes In American Society After The Second Great Awakening

    216 Words  | 1 Pages

    The middle to late 19th century was a tumultuous time in American society. After the Second Great Awakening many pathways to God opened up to the American populous. Most of the pathways were considered valid and Americans were left to decide what path they wanted to follow. Despite the numerous pathways, some Americans felt that their concerns regarding their personal lives were not being addressed. Chief among their concerns was a rapidly changing social ordered. This change was fueled by large amounts of immigrants and the rise of factories and railroads. The resulting fear was that many spiritual morals were being lost. Many of the Americans would held these fears would turn to spiritualism for a sense of order and spiritual satisfaction.

    Read More

  • “How Do I Love Thee?” Understanding the Victorian Era Through Browning and Stickney Ellis

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Victorian Era in English history was a period of rapid change. One would be hard-pressed to find an aspect of English life in the 19th century that wasn’t subject to some turmoil. Industrialization was transforming the citizens into a working class population and as a result, it was creating new urban societies centered on the factories. Great Britain enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity at home and thus was extending its global reach in an era of New Imperialism. Even in the home, the long held beliefs were coming into conflict.

    Read More

More about Role of Religion in Victorian Life

Open Document