How true these above words are! They are those of the present
free-lance Bishop Of Glastonbury: Sean Manchester, OSG. I sense that,
like myself, he is a radical cleric in that his approach to Christianity
is much more akin to the early British Celtic Church than to that
Continental usurper - corrupted by worldly ambitions - which sought to
take over a rule akin to past Caesars rather than emulate the role of
the lowly Galilean
I refer to that Medieval branch of Christendom which - very sadly,
had more blood on its hands than all the later branches put together!
Indeed, it persecuted with the sword – and later an inquisition – all
who stood in its way. Yes, and not only did this begin in Britain,
following Augustine’s demands that the ancient British church submit to
its tyranny; it also manifested its ecclesiastical totalitarianism
throughout Europe. Indeed, the Albigenses were sought out like hunted
animals. Neither men, women nor children were spared the wrath of this
retrograde system once - amongst other things - their vegetarianism came
in conflict with ‘holy’ churches ‘just’ decrees!
Such persecuted groups of believers – all of whom were seeking to get
back to New Testament forms of the original Christianity - were
stigmatised as sects long before Luther ever came on the scene. There
were – to name but a few – the Hussites; Albigensies, Waldenses, the
Bogomils (Friends Of God) and - not least for Britain! - the Wycliffites.
Indeed, in their varied attempts to get back to the original simplified
forms of the Christian faith many became vegetarian. Indeed, to such an
extent that ‘to prove the sincerity of a recant in preference to slow
death by inquisitorial torture, their persecutors had them,
individually, strangling a chicken and then eating of the same’. Yet, so
strong were some to avow their vegetarianism as consistent with
Christian ideals that they often chose the horrors of slow torture and
death rather than have another living creature killed for their food.
Well – thank God! - there is no penalty whatever to become a
Vegetarian in today’s world. Yet, it is surprising how many persist in
making their bodies the graveyards for stressed up, murdered, beasts.
And up to recently, the medical profession throughout the ‘civilised’
world commended flesh eating as essential for health!. Even today,
throughout doctors’ surgeries, health centres and hospitals, one will be
fortunate indeed to find a single poster or leaflet commending
vegetarianism. It is to the rival and humane alternative therapies that
one must turn for the commendation of truly humane and health imparting
lifestyles.
Go on to
Am I Too Critical; Or ‘Do I Smell A Rat’?
Return to Autumn 2005 Issue
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