In America, we have historically upheld the idea of the ‘separation of church and state’. There has never been a formal affiliation between any particular Christian church and the US government. And there is a general mindset in America that religious faith and practice are matters of personal choice, and the main responsibility of the government is to protect that freedom.

Great Britain in the 21st century is a multi-cultural society that strives to protect freedom of religious expression. Historically, however, there was no ‘separation of church and state’. Even today there are vestiges of ‘blurred lines’:

• The King is the ‘head of state’ and the head of the Church of England
• Christian (and other religious schools) are funded by the State
• Several English bishops are non-elected members of the House of Lords, which along with the House of Commons makes up the British Government.

This enmeshment of Church and State is nowhere more evident than at Westminster Abbey. Here, saints, kings, queens, parliamentarians, poets, writers, soldiers, and scientists are sacralised (made holy) within a Christian shrine.

The question for reflection is this: What does this sacralisation of English great figures in British history tell us about the way the people of this land have interpreted the Bible?
Publish your answer in 300 – 500 words, and then respond to the posts of 2-3 other students.