Learning more about the meaning of the Scottish Reformation

July 25, 2010

On Sunday 25th July, Rev Jim Scott preached a lesson in Durris Church on the importance of the Scottish Reformation on the development of Scotland and to the development of strong ties with Scotland's southern neighbour. In a short time, it was clearly impossible to do more than skim the surface of such a monumental topic, but Rev Scott did indeed manage to leave his listeners with a much greater awareness of the significance of Luther, Calvin and Knox.
It's strange how little attention is being paid to the 450th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation. Arguably, what's significant about the 450th, rather than the 400th or the 500th? However, having decided that it should be marked, why is the Scottish government paying so little attention to a series of events which so transformed Scotland? The Reformation meant very much more than simply moving away from Rome. It transformed Scotland from a poorly educated small country into one which had the best educated peasantry in Europe, which at a time when the great masses of people were peasants is saying a great deal. Through the Reformation, Scots from all backgrounds were taught to read and while the Bible may have been the only book in town for a while it wasn't long before people were reading and learning to such an extent that Scotland became a beacon of enlightenment. And yet, we do not hear very much from Holyrood about how the Reformation laid the foundation of the Scottish education system; perhaps because there is concern that it a shadow of its former self.
We should all take the time to learn more about great events such as the Scottish Reformation and to understand what they mean to us.

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