Posted on 07/27/2010 6:19:12 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
A JOHN KNOX lookalike is to welcome the Pope to Scotland.
The actor has been hired by the Catholic Church to play the leader of Scotland's Protestant Reformation in a pageant of the country's historical figures.
The 25 characters will parade in front of the pontiff's Popemobile on Princes Street, Edinburgh, during his visit in September.
Knox's surprise inclusion by Catholic Church leaders follows accusations that this year's 450th anniversary of the Reformation is being ignored by the Scottish Government.
The Reformation of 1560 revoked the Pope's authority in Scotland and banned Catholic Mass.
Last night, Church of Scotland leaders welcomed the fact Knox will feature.
Also depicted will be Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, William Wallace, St Andrew, Robert the Bruce, Eric Liddell, St Ninian, St Margaret, St Columba and Alexander Fleming.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: "It is a sign of a healthy nation that diversity within the Christian community is something to be celebrated as opposed to a source of division and struggle.
"It is a gift to those of us of a Protestant persuasion that by including this figure, the Catholic Church is contributing to the celebrations of the Reformation."
The parade - with thousands of cheering well-wishers lining the route - will also include 1000 pipers.
Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said Knox had been included because he was "an important gure" in Scottish history.
He said: "We have a shared Christian history and we are celebrating that.
"Each character, including Knox, will be played by an amateur actor and be in historically accurate costume.
"They will march down Princes Street before the Popemobile. By including Knox, we are highlighting our shared Christian heritage."
A leading Free Church theologian this month accused the Scottish government of "airbrushing" the Reformation out of history while celebrating the visit by Pope Benedict.
Professor Donald Macleod, former principal of the Free Church College in Edinburgh, said the SNP administration was in "Knox denial".
Historian Professor Tom Devine, a Catholic, has also described as "scandalous" the low-key way the 450th anniversary is being marked.
First Minister Alex Salmond has said requests to the government for support in marking the 450th anniversary would be considered.
The Pope's four-day UK visit begins on September 16.
....Also depicted will be Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, William Wallace, St Andrew, Robert the Bruce, Eric Liddell, St Ninian, St Margaret, St Columba and Alexander Fleming.
Knox himself would likely be rolling over in his grave if he knew.
Wait until the Pope gets punk’d and finds out it’s really Johnny Knoxville. Oh, the hilarity that will ensue......
Sez who? It is axiomatic that liberals talk in platitudes yet never offer any reasons to back them up. This is ironic for a philosophy that values reason above everything.
You'd never have a Presbyterian parade featuring a portrayal of Pope St. Pius V - unless it was in Northern Ireland, where he'd be burning in effigy.
On a percentage basis, there were more practicing orthodox Presbyterians in Scotland when Knox was exiled to England in 1549 than there are in 2010.
This little parade would likely not bother him as much as the fact that his efforts didn't take, and that there are more practicing Catholics in Scotland today than there are practicing orthodox Presbyterians - and likely more than all varieties of Scottish Presbyterians combined.
On the plus side, Presbyterianism has thoroughly taken root in the US. Though it is much less strong today than it was in colonial times, particularly in New England, it has been making something of a resurgence thanks to the work of some very visible contemporary proponents of Reform (and particularly Presbyterian) theology.
Article doesn’t mention homosexuals. How can they possibly have a parade without homosexuals?
One of the things we should remember is this- the Protestant Reformation didn't start until AFTER the Christians drove the Muslim heathen from most of Europe. Now, for the first time since the Reformation, we're facing a Second Islamic Invasion of the world, and it's now time for Catholics and Protestants to see what they have in common (worship of the Savior Jesus Christ), downplay the differences, and fight the common enemy.
Knox is enjoying being in the presence of his Lord and in comparison probably would not give one whit about the parade.
More realistically, the churches in the USA that formally adhere to the Westminster Confession and maintain a Presbyterian form of church order in the authentic Calvin/Knox tradition number less than one million people in a nation of 300 million plus.
There are also the 3.5 million members of the PCUSA, which I don't believe Knox would recognize as Christian, let alone Presbyterian.
it has been making something of a resurgence thanks to the work of some very visible contemporary proponents of Reform (and particularly Presbyterian) theology
While there has certainly been a resurgence of quality theological work among Reformed scholars, and a resurgence of partially Reformed views among many Southern Baptist and independent congregations, there really hasn't been growth at all in the number of churches that follow Presbyterian church order.
A good example would be R.C. Sproul, who has sold very well as a popular theologian - but is himself running an independent congregation that is not part of any presbytery.
J.I. Packer is an Anglican. James White is a Reformed Baptist (a denomination with fewer than 50 congregations and not part of a presbytery as the name implies).
The one Presbyterian denomination that seems to be producing reputable theologians is the OPC, which is tiny.
I wonder if you could tell me what you think of Doug Wilson... and don't hold back. Tell us what you really think.
The Battle of Tours, the Reconquista and the overthrow of the Emirate of Sicily all occurred before the Reformation.
The siege of Vienna, the Battle of Lepanto and the Great Turkish War all occurred after the Reformation, and were characterized by the refusal of the Protestant powers to aid the Catholic and Orthodox powers in their struggle.
Plenty of hardcore Catholics around who are no better than the Ulster brigades.
I’m well aware of the resurgence of Reform, however, I was surprised at lunch with my Reform friend when he sounded as if he was embracing something that may be called “Catholic Lite”.
They are decorating the floats and running the corn hole contests.
While I disagree with much of his theology, he's done a lot of good work from the point of view of classic presuppositionalism - especially by arguing with the "new atheism."
He really embarrassed himself by associating with Wilkins, who is not particularly bright (and certainly no match for Wilson in theological acumen).
That was a really stupid move on Wilson's part and basically ruined his effectiveness as a culture warrior against the Dawkins crowd.
History is clearly not his strong suit - but I give him a lot of respect for dissociating himself from Wilkins after he did the work of investigating Wilkins' assumptions and for pursuing his research further with the premier scholar in the field, Eugene Genovese (whose work I've long admired).
Hey and guess what? Since we have actually been talking to each other, we've found that most of what we "knew" about each other before was wrong.
However, these are generally the same "Catholics" who would claim that Benedict XVI is not legitimately the Pope.
very true.
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