h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK, just revising for my history exam (yay me!)

And stumbled into the Act of Uniformity of 1552, which made Church going compulsory.
Anyone know if this was ever repealed? If not, whats the penalty for skipping Church?

there are loads of nonrepealed laws lurking around. i was always told that english men are still required to shoot 12 arrows every sunday.........and that it is illegal to be welsh in a built up area.

FABT

Any new bridge across the Thames has to have bails hay hanging under it for a cerain period of time.

There has been a fairly recent purge on outdated Acts and many have now been repealed, including the death penalty for treason in the UK.

Apparently, it is still legal to shoot Scotsmen in Newcastle city centre. By way of revenge, there are still active anti-witchcraft laws in Scotland.

Somebody had better warn EV.

I thought the penalty for skipping church was eternal damnation

what,....being locked up in a cell with the cast of eastenders forever?!?!?!?!

I'd better go to church tomorrow then.

FABT

If that's Hell FABT I think I'll go twice...
I was planning on going once anyway - just to put in a good word with the Almighty on the subject of house-hunting

1552 was Mary, wasn't it? If so, good ol Liz would have booted it out soon as she got her chance. (By locking up Catholic bishops- but ne'er mind, she was allowed.) If it was Edward, Mary would've done for it. Reckon it only made certain type of churchgoing compulsory- if the first option, you had to go to CofE services to prove you weren't a Catholic. Or t'other way round.
I studied this period too, tho it seems to have deserted me. All I really remember is Elizabeth was adept at throwing slippers.

* looks nervously around *

It'd better not be!

Seriously, although it may well be on the books, I doubt any judge would enforce it or even agree to sit a prosecution for it. After all, the judge and barristers, not to mention the police officers, gaolers and other people involved, probably don't all go to church either.

I am given to understand that there is a way in which judges can defy a law which seems wrong but, not being versed in law, I don't know.

1552 was Edward VI - so a protestant law, which is why I wondered... unless Mary got rid of it

In a few thousand years time, when humans have finally evolved into rational beings, churches will be turned into pubs.

I don't think the activities of people leaving pubs will please those taking their eternal siesta in the garden. Unless rational people don't do that, of course.

>In a few thousand years time, when humans have finally evolved into rational beings, churches will be turned into pubs.<

That is under the a**umption that the earth will still be around. Several things could happen in that time. 1)There will be a world wide atomic bomb war. 2)The Aliens will build a bypass 3)80% of will will be shocked to learn that they should have paid attention in Sunday School should Jesus choose to make an unexpected appearence...

Either that or else there'll be a heckuva lot of pubs littering the countryside...

peace.

Certainly a lot of the students I know go to the pub religiously, revere their alcohol and make confessions to the general public when they have partaken extensively.

"3)80% of will will be shocked to learn that they should have paid attention in Sunday School should Jesus choose to make an unexpected appearence..."

Oh man, I would be SO damn annoyed if that ever happened: "I've been a smug, self-satisfied, intellectual atheist all these years, and you're telling me that daft story is true?!"

I'd voluntarily go to hell on principle.

The countryside littered with pubs eh? That'd make a change . *wishes he still lived in England so he could spend a day in a 16th century pub with real *. Bloody America, everything's too new.

Ho-hum

Ste

And they're all soo hasty. Can't be too hasty. Ho-hum.

*mutters something evil about bloody amerika...*

peace.

*Mutters something mildly derogatory about Engerland.