How quickly people seem to forget history, including the ones in Britain.
Margaret Thatcher did not start the trend of women being in power in England.
In fact Elizabeth I, the daughter of the afore mentioned King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (beheaded first of Henry's wives) took power from Mary, the oldest daughter. She was a Catholic, and tried to destroy the fledgling Protestant Church in England. She only ruled 5 years, but she earned the title of "Bloody Mary" for killing so many Protestants. Probably not the best example of an all powerful woman monarch.
Back to Elizabeth, she ruled 44 years, reestablished the Protestant Church without killing too many Catholic's, and was known as "Good Queen Bess." Under her rule, Britain's nascent empire was established during this Age of Discovery. In fact, the British Empire, in competition with France, Portugal and Spain, saw British rule in colonies literally expand around the globe. She tried to avoid war, as much as possible, but her defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 was one of the greatest military victories in the history of England.
Culture and arts flourished under Elizabeth's patronage, including William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. And remember, Elizabeth was not a figure head, but a ruling and reigning monarch who charted a course for England which established the might of Britain in the world. Elizabeth was an absolute monarch, and England and Britain benefited greatly from her leadership.
So after some very confused men kings, then Oliver Cromwell known as the "regicide dictator" by some; a mad King named George III who lost one of Britain's weathiest colonies over a silly dispute about taxation, (the 13 American colonies!); the crown finally returned to the safety and security of another woman monarch - Queen Victoria - Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of England. Another long lived Queen, she ruled Britain for 63 years. Her reign was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific and military change. She oversaw in the UK a great expansion of the British Empire.
Of course, Queen Victoria's power was more limited than that of Elizabeth I, seeing as numerous male kings and Cromwell made so many mistakes that Parliament and the House of Lords gained more power, which formerly belonged to the ruling monarch. Nevertheless, Victoria's stability of reign was a time of peace and prosperity for the United Kingdom. Further, her 9 children and their marriages help unite the Royal families of Europe, and peace reigned not only during her reign but for many years after.
Moving along to Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, who was crowned in 1952, she still reigns 64 years later, breaking Queen Victoria's 63 year record reign. She started her career as a mechanic and truck driver in WWII before her accession to the throne at age 26. Certainly, Parliament now runs England, but Elizabeth as a figure head has been both a tremendous and gentle influence during the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth. She brokered the independence of many nations from Britain, with grace and tact. And while her children have sometimes been noted for scandals, Elizabeth is a Queen that continues to reflect Christian values and uncompromising dedication to God, as Head of the Church of England. (Yes, please remember that Elizabeth is the SPIRITUAL leader of England!)
Of course, I disagree totally with this nonsense about all men being in authority over all women, on the basis of bad hermeneutics and translations of key scriptures. Certainly, men and women are different, but that does not mean that God never gives leadership roles to women, in the church and outside the church. Perhaps I will post and discuss what the Greek really says about "authority" particularly in 1 Tim. 2:12.
In the meantime. Britain, Canada and the other countries of the Commonwealth enjoy the leadership of a woman Queen, who as the head of the Church of England is the spiritual leader of Britain.
How do poeple forget these important things?
Margaret Thatcher did not start the trend of women being in power in England.
In fact Elizabeth I, the daughter of the afore mentioned King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (beheaded first of Henry's wives) took power from Mary, the oldest daughter. She was a Catholic, and tried to destroy the fledgling Protestant Church in England. She only ruled 5 years, but she earned the title of "Bloody Mary" for killing so many Protestants. Probably not the best example of an all powerful woman monarch.
Back to Elizabeth, she ruled 44 years, reestablished the Protestant Church without killing too many Catholic's, and was known as "Good Queen Bess." Under her rule, Britain's nascent empire was established during this Age of Discovery. In fact, the British Empire, in competition with France, Portugal and Spain, saw British rule in colonies literally expand around the globe. She tried to avoid war, as much as possible, but her defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 was one of the greatest military victories in the history of England.
Culture and arts flourished under Elizabeth's patronage, including William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. And remember, Elizabeth was not a figure head, but a ruling and reigning monarch who charted a course for England which established the might of Britain in the world. Elizabeth was an absolute monarch, and England and Britain benefited greatly from her leadership.
So after some very confused men kings, then Oliver Cromwell known as the "regicide dictator" by some; a mad King named George III who lost one of Britain's weathiest colonies over a silly dispute about taxation, (the 13 American colonies!); the crown finally returned to the safety and security of another woman monarch - Queen Victoria - Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of England. Another long lived Queen, she ruled Britain for 63 years. Her reign was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific and military change. She oversaw in the UK a great expansion of the British Empire.
Of course, Queen Victoria's power was more limited than that of Elizabeth I, seeing as numerous male kings and Cromwell made so many mistakes that Parliament and the House of Lords gained more power, which formerly belonged to the ruling monarch. Nevertheless, Victoria's stability of reign was a time of peace and prosperity for the United Kingdom. Further, her 9 children and their marriages help unite the Royal families of Europe, and peace reigned not only during her reign but for many years after.
Moving along to Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, who was crowned in 1952, she still reigns 64 years later, breaking Queen Victoria's 63 year record reign. She started her career as a mechanic and truck driver in WWII before her accession to the throne at age 26. Certainly, Parliament now runs England, but Elizabeth as a figure head has been both a tremendous and gentle influence during the evolution of the British Empire into the Commonwealth. She brokered the independence of many nations from Britain, with grace and tact. And while her children have sometimes been noted for scandals, Elizabeth is a Queen that continues to reflect Christian values and uncompromising dedication to God, as Head of the Church of England. (Yes, please remember that Elizabeth is the SPIRITUAL leader of England!)
Of course, I disagree totally with this nonsense about all men being in authority over all women, on the basis of bad hermeneutics and translations of key scriptures. Certainly, men and women are different, but that does not mean that God never gives leadership roles to women, in the church and outside the church. Perhaps I will post and discuss what the Greek really says about "authority" particularly in 1 Tim. 2:12.
In the meantime. Britain, Canada and the other countries of the Commonwealth enjoy the leadership of a woman Queen, who as the head of the Church of England is the spiritual leader of Britain.
How do poeple forget these important things?
