Contact:
Richard Nimmo
Phone: 0161-247-7765
E-Mail: Rjnimmo@yahoo.co.uk
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London/UK (pts037/06.04.2005/13:10) - Novelist R.J. Nimmo says it is only unconstitutional if the church of the day says so. But God has a long history of shifting the goal posts...
Breaking news just in: Prince Charles marrying Camilla Parker Bowles raises constitutional issues for both the Church of England and the monarchy. "So it is, so it was, and so it shall ever be," laments R.J. Nimmo, author of 'The Ancient Egyptian Ennead', the latest history-inspired fantasy novel in his 'Mustard Twins' series, which tells the story of telekinetic identical twins who tinker with ancient myths and legends to fulfill a modern agenda. Nimmo says that from the tradition of incestuous marriages amongst the royalty of ancient Egypt, to all the brouhaha surrounding rules governing the remarriage of royal divorcees today, the prevailing religion has always had a big say in royal wedding arrangements.
"But historically God - or whatever deity happens to be in charge in the period - can often be persuaded, even coerced, into going along with your wedding plans," says Nimmo. "What is acceptable usually depends upon who is on the throne on Earth, and therefore in heaven (or its equivalent). For example, in ancient Egypt, kings felt that incest was a royal prerogative, and hence the prevailing gods were all lined up by the priests, more or less shotgun-fashion, to be married off between close family." Wouldn't happen in the CoE though? Nimmo points out: "The historical irony of the Charles and Camilla marriage debate is, of course, that the Church of England owes its very existence to Henry VIII's wish to divorce his first wife."
God to stay out of it
If he knows what is good for him (or her), God will follow the Queen's lead and stay well out of the Camilla-Charles marriage debate, says Nimmo.
There has been religious opposition to the idea of the couple becoming man and wife, although it is not universal. More than half of England's bishops rejected the idea in a 1996 poll. And in 1997, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, controversially warned that Charles' remarriage would throw the Church into crisis.
"Ultimately, it doesn't matter what the General Synod thinks," says Nimmo, taking a broader theological perspective. "It's down to their boss, and, though I don't claim to be his appointed PR on Earth, I am not sure God is too made up about the wedding." How so? Nimmo says public opinion has shifted in favour of the couple marrying, although there is still doubt over whether Camilla should become queen. Of the 1,200 people asked in a recent newspaper poll, 68% believed they should marry. But 83% said Camilla should never become queen. "Taking into account the fact that Britain remains an overwhelmingly Christian country, with more than seven out of ten people stating this as their religion on their census form, you can see where I am coming from," says Nimmo. "I am not too sure that God ever liked the woman anyway."
For more information about the book series, author and Web site:
R.J. Nimmo has been featured in national and daily newspapers articles, discussing the influences of popular entertainment on children and young adults. The Ancient Egyptian Ennead, the latest young adult fantasy novel to be published in the six-book Mustard Twins series, is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Ingram. Publisher: Llumina Press (February, 2005) ISBN: 159526227X.
For more information, contact:
Richard Nimmo
Tel: 0161-247-7765
Email: Rjnimmo@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.coolkidzread.com
http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com/newsroom
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