近代早期英国海外殖民的宗教动因

The Religious Motivation of British Colonization in Early Modern Times

在经历了长期的宗教斗争后,16世纪60年代,英国完成了宗教改革。一方面,新建立的国教会希望向海外传播以扩大新教的影响;另一方面,它对国内的非国教派实行高压统治,处于弱势的天主教徒和主张更激进变革的清教徒,为了实现本教派的宗教理想和躲避宗教迫害,大批殖民海外以拓展生存与发展的空间。同时,在国际上,英国遭到了天主教强权西班牙的长期封锁和侵略。为了寻求民族国家的出路,向海外扩张、创建新教殖民地成为重要的战略选择。最终,英国人在美洲和爱尔兰建立了一批宗教殖民地,同时也成功地粉碎了西班牙的侵略和封锁,为建立大英帝国奠定了基础。

After the long period of Religious conflicts, England finished its Reformation in 1660s and Anglican, a sect of Protestantism, was made the state religion. On the one hand, Anglicans hoped to extend abroad to broaden Protestantism＇s impact. On the other hand, they ruled the domestic nonconformists with a strong hand： as the disadvantaged minority, some Catholics and Puritans longing for more radical reform flooded abroad, pursuing religious ideals and shelter from the persecution of the Anglican churches, to enlarge the room for their survival and development. At the same time, Britain suffered the long-lasting block and invasions form Spain, a Catholic pow- er. In order to break through this tight encirclement, Britain, this new nation state, considered o- versea expansions and colonies with Protestantism as essential strategic choices. Finally, Britain succeeded in establishing religious colonies in America and Ireland while smashing Spanish block and invasions, which laid the foundation for the future British Empire.