WI - non-Trinitarian Church of England

TruthfulPanda

Gone Fishin'
If Henry (Edward or Elizabeth) had decided - for whatever reason - to "go Arian" - what would be the international repercusions of that?
Would England become a pariah nation? Would it still be perceived as Christian, considering that all other denominations are Trinitarian and intolerant?
IIRC in OTL Unitarians were tolerated (only?) in the PLC (for a time), Transylvania and Holland.
I suppose a future union with Scotland becomes somewhat problematic ...
If already discussed - please direct me to that thread.
 

Philip

Donor
If Henry (Edward or Elizabeth) had decided - for whatever reason - to "go Arian" - what would be the international repercusions of that?

Not likely at all. Arianism was long dead at that point. Unitarianism might be acceptable from a philosophical viewpoint, but that is not enough. The people will not accept it. Going from 'We're not so sure about this pope guy' to ' We're not so sure about this Jesus guy' is a massive step. If Henry, Edward, or Elizabeth does this then they've handed their political rivals all they need to replace them.
 

TruthfulPanda

Gone Fishin'
Sorry for dragging Arianism into it - what I had in mind was CE not following "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" dogma.
The specifics of non-Trinitarianism are not that important. Jesus still "Son of God", however we understand it :)
 
It would be challenge to make Unitarians just significant and tolerated miniority. Unitarian CoE propably require Early Medieval POD.
 
If Henry (Edward or Elizabeth) had decided - for whatever reason - to "go Arian" - what would be the international repercusions of that?
Would England become a pariah nation? Would it still be perceived as Christian, considering that all other denominations are Trinitarian and intolerant?
IIRC in OTL Unitarians were tolerated (only?) in the PLC (for a time), Transylvania and Holland.
I suppose a future union with Scotland becomes somewhat problematic ...
If already discussed - please direct me to that thread.
Paradise Lost postulates an essentially Arian christology, but that didn't really catch on and I don't see any reason for why it would. By the renaissance the trinity was one of the bedrock elements of Christianity and I don't see any reason for why that would change.
 

TruthfulPanda

Gone Fishin'
Paradise Lost postulates an essentially Arian christology, but that didn't really catch on and I don't see any reason for why it would. By the renaissance the trinity was one of the bedrock elements of Christianity and I don't see any reason for why that would change.
The Trinity cropped up as a core mainstream belief in the IVth century yet movements which rejected it kept arising throughout history. Including several during the Reformation.
 

Philip

Donor
non-trinitarian heresies kept arising throughout history. Including several during the Reformation.

And the reaction to them was never pleasant. Any ruler trying to impose it from the top down will face rebellion, and there will always be a a rival to pick up the banner of orthodoxy.
 
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