Bede Christian Unity

In Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People he writes zealously about the mistakes and trumpets of past rulers; about Christianity and two characteristics that it made obtainable: peace and unity. Bede finished writing in 731 and he dedicates the writing to King Ceolwulf with an underlying notion of moral instruction for everyday life, and guidelines to take towards being a righteous ruler. Bede showed the progression and importance of Christian unity throughout his History. The middle decades of the seventh century were violent, there was the constant threat of war from outside nations and rulers did not want infighting. Christian unity, made for less infighting and thus peace within the nation, a peaceful nation equated to a stronger

First, pagans did not always want to convert to Christianity. Converting, pagan, King Edwin of Northumbria was arduous. Edwin wished to marry a Christian princess from Kent, Ethelburga. In order to marry Ethelburga, he said he would be tolerant of Christianity and convert. Edwin did not convert at that time, and he makes the promise to convert multiple times after but it was not until 626 C.E. that Edwin got baptized that he became a Christian. “For although Paulinus found it difficult to bring the king 's proud mind to accept [Christ]… he nevertheless continued…to strive for the conversion of the king and his nation” (Bede 125). Bede seems indifferent to Edwin until he became a Christian, when Edwin does convert Bede praises the fact the Edwin converted his people, and he spread faith and peace to other kingdoms. The Romans Catholics ran into a second complication when trying to spread their faith: the Celts. The Celtic Christians were converting in the northwest and the Roman Christians were converting from the southwest and they met in Northumbria. The point of disagreement between the Celts and the Romans revolved around the celebration of Easter. Oswy, the reigning Northumbrian King resolved the conflict through the Synod of Whitby. The Synod of Whitby took place because Oswy was Celtic Christian and his wife was Roman Christian and he was unhappy about the Easter Feasts taking place at different times. At the Synod of Whitby, all the church officials met and made a case about why their celebration of Easter was at the right time. Oswy decided that Easter should be celebrated inline with Roman Christian tradition, because they followed the teachings of St. Peter, who controlled the gates of heaven. Bede did not like Oswy, “Oswy thought nothing could be better than the Irish teachings, having been instructed in baptized by the Irish and having a complete grasp of their