Skip to document
Welcome to StudocuSign in to access the best study resources
Guest user
0followers
Upload
HomeMy LibraryAsk AI
  • You don't have any recent items yet.
My Library
  • You don't have any courses yet.
  • You don't have any books yet.
  • You don't have any Studylists yet.

John Locke A Letter Concerning Toleration 1685

Course

StuDocu Summary Library EN

999+ Documents
Students shared 1438 documents in this course
Academic year: 2017/2018
Listed bookA Letter Concerning Toleration
AuthorJohn Locke
Uploaded by:
Anonymous Student
This document has been uploaded by a student, just like you, who decided to remain anonymous.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Recommended for you

Comments

Please sign in or register to post comments.

Students also viewed

Related documents

Related Studylists

Pvl1501Great writerslib

Preview text

John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration (1685)

Background

Locke wrote his Letter Concerning Toleration to his Dutch friend Philip von Limborch while he was living as an exile in the Dutch Republic, which had been founded as a secular state that would tolerate religious differences. The letter was written against the backdrop of 17th century religious persecution all over Europe--the Reformation had split Europe into competing Catholic and Protestant camps, and civil wars and rebellions had arisen all over western Europe. In 1685, the year this letter was written, Louis XIV of France had just revoked the Edict of Nantes, causing French Catholics to persecute the Huguenots and forcing them to flee France. In England, Anglicans had passed laws after the restoration of Charles II to the throne that called for the repression of both Catholics and other non-Anglican Protestant sects. Originally written in Latin, Locke's letter calls for an end to the oppression of persons holding unorthodox religious beliefs. The letter was originally published against Locke's will after he returned to England following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. It was widely criticized as a radical document.

The Distinction of the Businesses of Religion and Civil Society

The Civil State

Locke argues for a clear distinction to be drawn between religion and civil society, in order to put to rest any controversies that may arise from any unclear boundaries. He says:

"a word, that none may impose either upon himself or others, by the pretences of loyaltyand obedience to the prince, or of tenderness and sincerity in the worship of God; I esteem it above all things necessary to distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion, and to settle the just bounds that lie between the one and the other."

Therefore, Locke suggests that the commonwealth, or civil society, should be thought of as a society of men constituted only for maintaining and advancing their civil interests. These civil interests he calls, "life, liberty, health, and indolency of body; and the possession of outward things, such as money lands, houses, furniture, and the like." The duty of civil magistrates, therefore, is to impartially carry out equal laws which ensure the civil interests of the people.

What doesn't qualify as falling within the realm of the business of civil society?

  1. The care of souls, because it does not appear that God has ever given such authority to one man over the other, nor can this authority be handed over to the magistrate by the consent of the people.
  2. The care of souls, which is consists in inward persuasion of the mind, cannot be the power of the magistrate, because his power consists only in outward force. The magistrate has no power to establish any article of faith, or worship, by the force of his laws.
The magistrate has no power to execute such laws, because, though their force would convince people

to change their faiths, this would not help in the salvation of their souls. Faith should no come from coercion. Faith is about internalizing beliefs and having the right attitudes. One cannot compel beliefs or right attitudes with violence. While the government may know (or think it knows) the truth, it will not be able to modify beliefs and attitudes that come from within. Therefore violence as a means of coercion is unnecessary and would serve no real purpose.

The Church

Locke defines the church as: “A voluntary society of men, joining themselves together of their own accord in order to the public worshipping of God, in such a manner as they judge acceptable to him, and effectual to the salvation of their souls”

Each person must choose for themselves to become a member of a church; they can be influenced by outside sources, such as their parents or state, but the decision is ultimately personal.

Powers of the Church:

  1. The church must be regulated by some laws, and the members all consent to observe some order
  2. The church is limited to issue laws in things regarding the Holy Scriptures, and not external things
  3. All discipline ought to aim at achieving salvation – not outward goods/ possessions
  4. It can only punish by excommunication from the church (or by acting on the relationship between the person and the church)

He also addresses the claim that a church must have a bishop or authority figure, of uninterrupted succession from the first apostles, to be a true church. He announces that this edict was not made by Christ; rather, Christ declared that a true Church would exist “wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in my name”

The Duty of Toleration

  1. No church has to retain members that have offended her laws or beliefs. Such a person, albeit excommunicated from a church will not be deprived of their current civil goods, which are under the magistrate’s protection.
  2. No private person has the right to prejudice another person in civil enjoyments based on their religion or church.
  3. Churches should encourage tolerations of other religions; as it is important to understand that no one church/religion has jurisdiction over the others.
  4. If there is a controversy between the churches about the truth of their doctrines, and the purity of their worship, both sides are deemed equal
  5. The power of church authority figures is limited to ecclesiastical matters and not extended to civil affairs.
  6. In domestic matters unrelated to the church, each individual can decide and pursue the course he likes best
  7. Magistrate’s Duty in Toleration: The care of each man’s soul belongs to him alone – it is not the responsibility of the magistrate to implement laws that would “save” the souls of its citizens any more than it is his duty to secure riches and health for them. Moreover, while “there are a thousand ways to wealth, but only one way to heaven”, people still disagree as to which is the right one. It is the duty of each man to discover what is right for him and his own soul. Magistrates or princes cannot make superior decisions because we are all equal in nature. In addition, Locke points out that the point of religion is salvation. If one is coerced into religion, the trappings of religion and that person's actions will be hollow and insincere. This insincerety will not lead to one's salvation, and so to force someone into religion without belief is pointless and a waste of time.

Locke then dismantles a few arguments involving a theocratic government (meaning one in which the magistrate enacts what the church has determined). He is against this arrangement, claiming that it would

● What arguments does Locke give for tolerating religious difference? ● How far does Locke think toleration should extend? Who is not to be tolerated, and why?

Was this document helpful?

John Locke A Letter Concerning Toleration 1685

Course: StuDocu Summary Library EN

999+ Documents
Students shared 1438 documents in this course

University: Studocu University - USA

Was this document helpful?
John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration (1685)
Background
Locke wrote his Letter Concerning Toleration to his Dutch friend Philip von Limborch while he was living
as an exile in the Dutch Republic, which had been founded as a secular state that would tolerate religious
differences. The letter was written against the backdrop of 17th century religious persecution all over
Europe--the Reformation had split Europe into competing Catholic and Protestant camps, and civil wars
and rebellions had arisen all over western Europe. In 1685, the year this letter was written, Louis XIV of
France had just revoked the Edict of Nantes, causing French Catholics to persecute the Huguenots and
forcing them to flee France. In England, Anglicans had passed laws after the restoration of Charles II to
the throne that called for the repression of both Catholics and other non-Anglican Protestant sects.
Originally written in Latin, Locke's letter calls for an end to the oppression of persons holding unorthodox
religious beliefs. The letter was originally published against Locke's will after he returned to England
following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. It was widely criticized as a radical document.
The Distinction of the Businesses of Religion and Civil Society
The Civil State
Locke argues for a clear distinction to be drawn between religion and civil society, in order to put to rest
any controversies that may arise from any unclear boundaries. He says:
"a word, that none may impose either upon himself or others, by the pretences of loyaltyand obedience to
the prince, or of tenderness and sincerity in the worship of God; I esteem it above all things necessary to
distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion, and to settle the just bounds that
lie between the one and the other."
Therefore, Locke suggests that the commonwealth, or civil society, should be thought of as a society of
men constituted only for maintaining and advancing their civil interests. These civil interests he calls, "life,
liberty, health, and indolency of body; and the possession of outward things, such as money lands,
houses, furniture, and the like." The duty of civil magistrates, therefore, is to impartially carry out equal
laws which ensure the civil interests of the people.
What doesn't qualify as falling within the realm of the business of civil society?
1. The care of souls, because it does not appear that God has ever given such authority to one man
over the other, nor can this authority be handed over to the magistrate by the consent of the
people.
2. The care of souls, which is consists in inward persuasion of the mind, cannot be the power of the
magistrate, because his power consists only in outward force. The magistrate has no power to
establish any article of faith, or worship, by the force of his laws.
# The magistrate has no power to execute such laws, because, though their force would convince people
to change their faiths, this would not help in the salvation of their souls. Faith should no come from
coercion. Faith is about internalizing beliefs and having the right attitudes. One cannot compel beliefs or
right attitudes with violence. While the government may know (or think it knows) the truth, it will not be
able to modify beliefs and attitudes that come from within. Therefore violence as a means of coercion is
unnecessary and would serve no real purpose.

Students also viewed

Related documents