Abbot, Abbesses and other Head Monastics were offered a life-long pension from the Crown amounting to 1% of the annual income of the monastery being dissolved. As St Albans made around £1000 per year – the Abbot received a guaranteed £10 per year – a very substantial amount for the time. The idea was to purchase their compliance. Those who resisted were tried for Treason and publicly executed. Henry gave away monastic property to his favourites – or sold it at a cut-price to other interested parties. All the accumulated gold, silver, copper, led and bronze, as well as gemstones – were sold into the public domain and effectively laid the foundation for a modern capitalist economy. This freeing of monastic treasure into the public domain represented a massive injection of wealth into the English economy – stimulating buying, selling and market speculation. When the movable wealth ran-out – the brick-work and foundations of many monasteries were dismantled and used to reinforce Henry’s castles along the coast – or in the case of Merton Abbey – to build Nonsuch Palace in Surrey! Whereas the monks were opposed to greed and grasping – a new secular society emphasised the exact opposite to get on. Now, greed, lying and cheating guaranteed the personal accumulation of wealth that could purchase a place to live, schooling, food, travel and leisure, etc. Of course, supporting Henry often guaranteed social climbing. Modern capitalism was invented in England by Henry VIII.
Tag: theism
Near Life Experiences (NLE) – When Inert Chemicals ‘See You’…
Much has been written about so-called ‘NDE’ or ‘Near Death Experience’ in the contemporary paranormal literature. These are essentially stories told by people who have
The Challenge of Marx Toward Religion
This is very much a loaded question. Why does a man who rejects the greed and oppression inherent within the capitalist ideology (just as Jesus
The Anatomy of a ‘Thought’
A ‘thought’ in the mind is in fact the product of a sophisticated chain of chemical reactions experienced in the brain. The physical organ of
Lockdown Church Service for Atheists, Non-Theists and Agnostics (24.5.2020)
Marx and Engels understood the comfort that people experienced through attachment to religion, but stated that the very Church thy adore supports and encourages the very capitalist system that oppresses and crushes their aspirations – blaming their poverty not on the injustices of men – but rather on the bizarre notion that an unseen god is inflicting these sufferings ‘for your own good’, when rich people obviously suffer far less, if they suffer at all! Remember, you are in-charge of your own destiny.
Genuine Contemplation
‘More than other believers, the contemplative ought to be an “expert in atheism.” Does he believe? Perhaps, yet without believing, it seems to him. He