Description
Four Turbulent Episodes in the History of Christian Scotland
INTRODUCED BY RICHARD HOLLOWAY
168pp • HB
The lavishly illustrated book of the critically acclaimed BBC Scotland television series
‘Those who want to know how religion and politics interact could find no better introduction to the subject than this.’
Mario Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow
‘A series, and book, that should be on the curriculum of every school in the country.’
Magnus Linklater
This entertaining and highly informative book is based on a major BBC Scotland history series that explores the enormous impact of Christianity on Scotland. Original research, carried out by many of Scotland’s most respected academics, shows Scottish history in a new light. The often violent, often progressive history of Christianity continues to influence the character and culture of the Scots, and this book highlights the ways in which Scottish culture is deeply influenced by its Christian history.
SAMPLE TEXT
The French fleet swiftly bombarded the castle into submission, overwhelming the Protestant rebels. With the uprising crushed, it was time to deal with the perpetrators. Those in the castle had bonded together as fellow revolutionaries, regardless of their background. Now, however, the French separated the nobles and other high-ranking men from the rest. The former were treated almost like guests, while the latter, including Knox, were sent to work on galley ships.
[…]
Under the watchful eye of his French Catholic guards, Knox could only seethe in silence and try not to give in to utter despair. Now, the firebrand preacher was reduced to sly and solitary acts of defiance. He later tells, for example, of the occasion on which he was given an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary to kiss. Not being prepared to do this, he threw the icon overboard – but not without checking first that no-one was watching.
This seems typical of him. Although Knox was prepared to defy authority, he clearly had no appetite for physical danger, and certainly had no martyr complex. He was never reckless enough to put himself deliberately in the way of pain or death. Nevertheless, while aboard the French galley his spirit was not broken by failure and hardship. At times, it looked to him as though Satan had won; but, through these darkest days, Knox believed that Satan would eventually be defeated.
© 2003