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The Courage to Read and Think: Defiance and Freedom

A painting by George Clausen depicting English people reading the Wycliffe Bible in defiance of the Heresy Act of 1401. This act made it illegal for non-priests to read the Bible and those caught were burned at the stake for heresy. The painting represents the courage to seek knowledge and think for oneself, as well as the birth of religious dissent and progressive political ideas. This picture holds personal significance for the author and symbolizes the pursuit of freedom.

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The Courage to Read and Think: Defiance and Freedom

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  1. A painting hangs in St Stephen’s Hall in the Palace of Westminster - the British Houses of Parliament misadventuresofmoppet.files.wordpress.com/200..

  2. In 1401 Parliament passed the Heresy Act which among other things made it an offence for any person who was not a priest to read the Bible and those caught doing so were burned at the stake for heresy

  3. The object of that law was to prevent common people from discovering what was written in the Bible and reaching their own conclusions about what it meant, which might differ from the Church’s teachings

  4. But some courageous people did not accept this law and went into the fields and read the Bible to each other as this picture shows

  5. English people reading the Wycliffe Bible by George Clausen 1927

  6. In 1384 John Wycliffe died having spent years translating the Bible into English and that triggered the Wycliffe rising in 1399

  7. Wycliffe was burned at the stake but since he had been dead for 40 years his remains were exhumed so this barbaric punishment could be inflicted as a warning to others

  8. The right to read what you want and to think for yourself posed a direct threat to those in power - as it does today

  9. The right to read what you want and to think for yourself posed a direct threat to those in power - as it does today It was the beginning of religious dissent which in turn gave rise to Protestantism Tony Benn (British Politician)

  10. For my interview with Tony Benn see www.vega.org.uk

  11. Ideas and modern non-conformity which gave birth to progressive political ideas and inspired early socialists and reformers

  12. The right to read what you want and to think for yourself posed a direct threat to those in power - as it does today

  13. Having been born and brought up as a dissenter in that tradition this picture has always had a specuial meaning for me and my mother had it in her bedroom

  14. I also have copy of it at home and draw comfort from the courage of those who risked their lives by defying the laws as the only way to enjoy freedom in which they passionately believe

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