Children in particular frequently assume that there is some sort of abstract force for justice in the world, and although they understand accidents, they find it hard to believe that events can unfold in an unfair way.
We have to learn to accept that some things are not the way we would like them to be, and that truth is not a matter of what we wish for, or what the government wants, or what seems just. It is a matter of observation.
I read in the paper the other day that Christmas has been cancelled this year.
Owen: Eh? That can't be right.
The decision's been made. There isn't going to be any Christmas.
Charlotte: Who says?
It was in the newspaper.
Charlotte: They can't do that. I've bought Owen a present already.
Well you might as well give it to him now, because there isn't going to be any Christmas this year.
Owen: I'm having a tree, anyway.
People will just think you're silly if you have a tree when it isn't Christmas.
Anyway, I'm pleased to see you have some doubts about whether Christmas can be cancelled.
Have you heard of King Henry VIII?
Owen: Yes. We did him at school.
When did he live?
Owen: We didn't learn that.
You must have some idea though. When do you think?
Owen: I dunno. 1865?
Ridiculous. The American civil war was on then. Obviously it was before that.
Owen: 1066?
He was King of England in the fifteen hundreds. He had 6 wives.
Charlotte: It was on TV. He used to cut off their heads.
Yes. Was that kind?
Charlotte: I think some of them deserved it.
Anyway, that's not what I want to discuss just now. King Henry was very boastful, and liked to be in charge of everything. Besides being King, he also wanted to be boss of the Church in England.
Charlotte: What is the Church?
It's sort of like a club. People meet on Sundays to talk about God. I've been thinking of making you go, because it might make you a better person. There are churches all over the place. I'm sure you've seen them. Anyway, King Henry wanted to be boss of all the churches in England, but most people thought a man in Italy, called the Pope, was boss of all the churches in the world.
King Henry sent soldiers to knock on everybody's door. They would ask whoever answered the door, "Who do you think is boss of the Church, the King or the Pope?" If you said "The King", the soldiers went on to the next house. But if you said "The Pope", they dragged everyone out of your house and burnt them at the stake.
Charlotte: I would have said "The King".
It wasn't as easy as that. When King Henry died, Queen Mary took over. She sent soldiers round to everybody's place again, to ask the same question. But Queen Mary didn't agree with King Henry. This time, the people who said the Queen was boss of the Church had to be burnt, and the people who said it was the Pope were left alone.
Charlotte: That's not fair.
Owen: I would have listened to what other people said, and told the soldiers whatever answer would make them leave me alone.
That's not a bad idea. But a lot of people didn't do that because they believed that if they didn't give the true answer they would go to Hell when they died. We'll talk about Hell some other time.