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Oxford Movement for Dummies

noun


What does Oxford Movement really mean?

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Hey there! Let's talk about the Oxford Movement, shall we?

Imagine you and your friends are really into a particular sport, like basketball. You play it every day during recess, you watch games on TV, and you even have basketball posters all over your room. It's safe to say that basketball is a big part of your life, right? Now, let's apply this concept to religion.

The Oxford Movement, also known as the Tractarian Movement, was a really important event in the history of Christianity. It all started in the 19th century, in England. At that time, some people felt like the Church of England (which is a Protestant church) wasn't doing things the right way. They believed that the church had strayed away from some of its original beliefs and practices.

Just like you and your friends are really passionate about basketball, these people were passionate about their faith. And they thought, "Hey, we need to remind our church about some of the really important things we used to believe in!"

So, they formed a group called the Oxford Movement. Their goal was to bring back some of the things they thought the church had forgotten. They wanted to focus on bringing back certain Catholic practices and traditions. Now, don't get confused by the word "Catholic" here. We're not talking about the Roman Catholic Church specifically; rather, we're talking about some practices that were common in Christianity a long time ago.

The Oxford Movement didn't just happen overnight. It was a slow and gradual process, with lots of people getting involved. They published books and pamphlets, called "tracts," which explained their ideas and tried to convince others to join them. This is why the movement is sometimes called the Tractarian Movement.

One of the main things the members of the Oxford Movement focused on was the importance of the sacraments, which are special religious ceremonies. They believed that these sacraments were a way for people to have a closer relationship with God. Think of the sacraments as the special moves or tricks you and your friends practice on the basketball court to get better at the game.

Another thing they emphasized was the beauty of churches and worship rituals. They believed that the way people worshiped should be really beautiful and meaningful, almost like a work of art. They wanted to bring back some of the decorations and rituals that had been forgotten over time. Imagine if you and your friends decided to redecorate your basketball court with awesome posters and colorful banners to make it look even more amazing while you played!

Now, it's important to mention that not everyone was on board with the Oxford Movement. Some people thought the changes they wanted to make were too extreme or unnecessary. They preferred to stick to the way things were already being done in the Church of England.

So, in a nutshell, the Oxford Movement was a movement led by a group of passionate individuals who thought that the Church of England needed to go back to some of its old beliefs and practices. They wanted to bring back some of the beautiful rituals and traditions that had been forgotten over time, and they believed that these things would help people have a closer connection to God.

I hope that makes things clearer for you! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Learning new things can sometimes be challenging, but you're doing great!


Revised and Fact checked by Emma Johnson on 2023-10-29 15:18:23

Oxford Movement In a sentece

Learn how to use Oxford Movement inside a sentece

  • In the mid-19th century, a group of people started a religious movement called the Oxford Movement which aimed to bring back some old beliefs and practices to the Church of England.
  • The Oxford Movement encouraged the use of more traditional forms of worship, like chanting, incense, and the wearing of robes, which were not commonly seen in the Church of England at that time.
  • One of the significant impacts of the Oxford Movement was a renewed focus on the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, which became more central to worship services.
  • The Oxford Movement promoted the idea of spiritual discipline and emphasized daily prayer, meditation, and study of religious texts.
  • As a result of the Oxford Movement, many new churches were built in a style reminiscent of medieval Gothic architecture, highlighting the movement's interest in the traditions of the past.

Oxford Movement Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.