[Celtman]

The English Reformation was PURELY political, it had nothing to do with theology.

Banderdash!

There were very real doctrinal differences between the Church of Rome and the Church of England.  These included (but were not limited to):

• The nature of the mass

  The church of Rome held that the mass is a recurring propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead.  The church of England held that Hebrews 2:10 is correct: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God ...."

• The nature of the elements

  The church of Rome held that the bread and wine become literally and physically the body and blood of Christ.  The church of England held that bread and wine remain bread and wine.

Politics did make it possible for the Biblical positions to be proclaimed openly, without exposing believers to death by being burned at the stake.  But politics did not create these doctrinal differences; study of the scriptures revealed the error of the Roman doctrine.

[wagglebee]

The church of Rome held that the mass is a recurring propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead. The church of England held that Hebrews 2:10 is correct: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God ...."

SOME Anglicans may have decided this later, but it certainly wasn't the case at the time of the English Reformation.

The church of Rome held that the bread and wine become literally and physically the body and blood of Christ. The church of England held that bread and wine remain bread and wine.

False.

[redgolum]

With due respect Celtman, you are wrong on a number of points.

First of all, the Church of England held to the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Lord's Supper. Much as most Anglican Church's do today. Tran-substitution was not held by all, because it was still a new definition.

The view of the Mass was the same between the two. It remained that way till Henry's daughter, Elizabeth, who merged the Anglican's with a number of dissenting churches.