Letter Concerning Toleration Essay - 1055 Words

John Locke was born in 1632. He grew to become one of the most influential philosophers and was seen as the father of the Enlightenment. Locked studied at the Christ Church of Oxford in 1658 (AR). At Oxford he studied medicine which impacted his beliefs a great deal. His most famous works include First Treatise of Government, Second Treatise of Government, and Letter Concerning Toleration (AR). In his treatises he proclaimed that absolute monarchy was not the proper way to govern. These beliefs about a monarchy started in him at a very young age. His Letter Concerning Toleration claims that governments do not have the right to interfere with citizen’s creeds unless they are a threat to the greater good. Locke’s ideas became†¦show more content†¦The place one is born does not determine eternal happiness. Nevertheless, it can best be summed up by saying, â€Å"All the power of civil government relates only to men’s civil interests, is confined to the care of the things of this world, and hath nothing to do with the world to come,† (Locke 5). Perchance a church is idolatrous what, if any, jurisdiction does the magistrate have over this situation. Locke answers this question with his own question. â€Å"What power can be given to the magistrate for the suppression of an idolatrous Church, which may not in time and place be made use of to the ruin of an orthodox one?† (Locke 20). While idolatry may not be judged correct for a church to condone, it is not illegal. Churches are allowed to their own beliefs and practices as long as the greater good is not threatened or endangered by their beliefs. If the magistrate could act in this situation then he would have unwarranted authority over the church. If the church were to do something similar or something that the magistrate does not like, then he would have authority over the church to take action. It would come to the fact that the magistrate would be in con trol of the church. Locke uses different examples to convey this point such as, â€Å"If, therefore, such a power be granted unto the civil magistrate inShow MoreRelatedJohn Locke : The Benefits Of Religious Liberty And Religious Freedom895 Words   |  4 Pagesare of different belief than another, religious toleration is difficult. John Locke was a philosopher who brought up the very discussion of tolerating religions and respecting their freedoms. He explained how the state and major churches can and should aid in the effort to support religious freedom. By examining religious toleration through the benefits received and the negatives if done independently, it is difficult to promote religious toleration without the cooperation of both church and stateRead MoreJohn Locke : The Most Influential Philosophical And Political Thinker917 Words   |  4 Pagesretiring at Oates in Essex. On October 28, 1704, Locke died, after making a contribution that would not only have significance over the Enlightenment in Europe, but in the modern world. Locke explored the limits of human understanding with his Essay Concerning Human Understanding. He was a man of great circumspection; the Essay, consisting of four books, was the fruit of 20 years of intellectual labor. â€Å"The new perspective was Locke’s major contribution [to psychology], and it dominated European thoughtRead MoreBiography of John Locke876 Words   |  4 Pagesgaining new ideas that would later turn be featured in two of his major publications, A Letter Concerning Toleration and Two Treatises of Government. John Locke got A Letter Concerning Toleration published in 1689 and it was first published in Latin. What made him put pen to paper and write this was the increased fear that Catholicism could very well be taking England over (Broers). Locke proposed a religious toleration to ease the growing concern. Locke believed that more religions prevent the chancesRead MoreThe Rise Of The Roman Empire1224 Words   |  5 Pageslives of common people. In the early centuries, Christianity was developing with a great influence to affect the Roman world. Constantine came to power in the Western provinces of the Roman Empire as an advocate of religious toleration. Constantine’s advocacy for religious toleration alongside his conversion marks a turning point of the Roman world and drives the spread Christianity. With Diocletian’s abdication in 305 A.D., Constantine’s troops acclaimed him as Caesar. The age of persecution began inRead MoreJohn Locke Leader Essay772 Words   |  3 Pagesclassical liberalism, was a British philosopher of the enlightenment and was a very influential character during his time. His influences came from the literature he wrote like â€Å"Two Treatises of Government†, â€Å"An Essay Concerning Human Understanding† and â€Å"A Letter Concerning Toleration†. Not only known for his writing, but for being a life-saver to the Shaftesbury party, he was an intelligent and interesting man. John Locke was born on August 29 of 1632 going on to study in the Westminster schoolRead MoreEssay about Religious Toleration during the Enlightenment1302 Words   |  6 Pagesrevelation; they welcomed the excitement offered by the ever widening opportunities for discovery and commerce and by the prospect of immeasurable progress owing to the inventions of science and technology and the spread of education.1 Religious toleration during the Age of Enlightenment was ultimately affected by changes in the Roman Catholic Church, the politics of the 18th century, and the philosophy movement. Enlightenment was a term, which was used to describe a new philosophy of life. ItRead MoreThe State Of Nature And Government1315 Words   |  6 Pagesenlightenment were Thomas Hobbes (1588-1674) and John Locke (1632-1704). These enlightenment authors represent two different side of the political spectrum; Locke represents the right wing with his book â€Å"Second Treatise on Civil Government† and â€Å"A Letter Concerning Toleration† and Hobbes represent the left wing with his book â€Å"Leviathan†. They are important because they introduced two different ideas of the States of Nature and the type of social contract and government that should be regulating it. This paperRead MoreConstantine And Christianity Of The Roman Empire1350 Words   |  6 Pageslives of common people. In the early centuries, Christianity was developing with a great influence to affect the Roman world. Constantine came to power in the Western provinces of the Roman Empire as an advocate of religious toleration. Constantine’s advocacy for religious toleration alongside his conversion marked a turning point of the Roman world and drove the spread Christianity. With Diocletian’s abdication in 305 A.D., Constantine’s troops acclaimed him as Caesar. The age of persecution began inRead More Locke, Aristotle and Aquinas Essay2204 Words   |  9 Pageswere Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas.   Aquinas disagreed in three key respects:   Compulsion, toleration, and authority.   Aristotle, on the other hand, disagreed on a more fundamental issue:   the goal of politics itself.   This essay aims to elucidate Lockes arguments, and then explicate Aristotle and Aquinas would-be objections to Lockes A Letter Concerning Toleration.    In A Letter Concerning Toleration, Locke discusses the issue of civil tolerance.   His main premise is that society is constitutedRead MoreEssay on Voltaire and the Beginning of the Enlightment1305 Words   |  6 Pagesone will succeed any better.2 Upon his release from the Bastille, Voltaire was exiled to England, a country he grew very fond of. At this time, freedom of speech was continuously exemplified throughout the country of England; Voltaire found this toleration very advantageous to the beginnings of his opinion. While in England, Voltaire decided to redirect his purpose of writing; he now decided to fight for the right of human liberty. From the time Voltaire moved to England through the remainder of his