This was a tax to improve the navy in times of war. It was usually paid only by countries on the coast and only in wartime. But in 1635 and 1636 Charles demanded Ship Money from all countries even though no war took place (yet). People who refused to pay were arrested. There were no more sources to receive money from.
The common masses were also unhappy with the Pope and church. They were not only unhappy with the prevailing corrupt practices in church and the flimsy grounds on which the church collected funds from innocent people but also disliked its interference in the secular affairs. Even the rulers were quite unhappy with the Pope and strongly protested against Papal interference in the affairs of their states. Perhaps the greatest religious leader the world has ever seen, Martin Luther is seen as the spark to the Protestant Reformation. Some viewed him as a heretic while others saw him as an advocate for religious freedom and truth.
They had used several immoral practices such as simony, the buying and selling of church offices. And as author Dan Petty put it, “pluralism (holding multiple offices simultaneously) and absenteeism (failure to reside in the parish where they were supposed to minister),”(Petty). Several situations in which the church displayed its power included taxations and practicing celibacy (Petty). Due to the church’s immense power, many expressed fear and became discouraged to contest its actions. One of the main leaders in the act to resist the Roman Catholic Church’s authority and change the ideas of Christianity in the Protestant Reformation was Martin Luther.
He created the New Model Army. He taught them how to fight, gave them strategies against the enemy etc. During the English Civil War Cromwell had heard terrible stories from Protestants in Ireland. He heard that Catholics committed terrible crimes such as cutting off people's hands and feet and beating women's brains with poles. There were many stories alike.
This statement, naturally would anger any Catholic, especially if they were relentlessly worried about not being able to get a job or a house for their family. After the opening of the Northern Ireland parliament, many of the Unionists MP’s wanted to ensure that their control over the six counties would be permanent and could not be challenged. Thus, the RUC and B specials were created. As discrimination was put into gear, many Catholics could not enter the police force therefore creating an atmosphere were mainly Protestants were in control. This was seen as very bad news for the Catholics.
Russia was a religious orthodox country in the 1900s and the church greatly impacted the beliefs of followers. The church also represented the Tsars views. The Tsars reliance on the church caused a lot more discontentment towards him. As Tsars were seem as ‘God’s representatives’ on Earth, it led to people losing faith in the Tsar as they disagreed with this view. The church had some positive impact on the Tsars reign – it played a great role in the reinforcement of Tsardom by threatening to ‘curse’ the people who didn’t put full belief into the Tsar.
Another thing that the Church was often criticized for was the lack of separation between Church and State. In all matters, whether they be religious or political, the Church, mainly the Pope, was the ultimate authority. The Protestants also had a problem with the idea of transubstantiation, or the belief that the bread and wine served at mass are literally the flesh and blood of Christ. The use of Latin in mass was also frowned upon, because no one could understand what the priest was saying. Clerical celibacy yet another thing that the Protestants didn’t like, and because of this, both Luther and Calvin were wedded.
The French’s hatred for the English lead them to help the Americans break free from British rule. When Louis XVI came to power, the country was already in huge debt, and him and his wife, Marie Antoinette, only made it worse by spending money on unnecessary luxuries. As the Revolution drew nearer, the cost of bread, which was a key part of the French diet, was extremely high. The French citizens were outraged and started riots in the streets of Paris. The inefficient tax distribution didn’t help the cause.
While many churches continue to deny women certain human rights, it is very clear that without women, the Christian religion would be a vastly different community. Women continue to strive for equal status in the church. They are beginning to oppose more and more of the Church’s teaching. Feminists are now opposing the idea that humans have a “dual anthropology.” The Church supports this philosophy and explains that “women’s human nature is naturally different from men’s human nature” (Bielgrien 13).
The MPs were not happy with the forced loans and foreign wars so they presented Charles with the Petition of Rights which was just parliament saying that Charles cannot raise custom duties without parliaments permission. In 1629 parliament asked the king for an end to forced loans and imprisonment without trial. Charles agreed. Parliament granted him an increase on custom duties, but for one year only, Charles thought this to be an attack on his freedom to rule. He dismissed parliament and went on to rule for 11 years without parliament.