";s:4:"text";s:6453:" Theme: Religion & Toleration. Born On: August 29, 1632. Every one is ready to be the avenger of so great a crime. John Locke (1632-1704) was also known in his lifetime as a staunch defender of religious toleration. John Locke spent his life trying to understand the human person and spent several decades, especially the last one of his life, trying to better understand Christianity. In private domestic affairs, in the management of estates, in the conservation of bodily health, every man may consider what suits his own conveniency, and follow what course he likes best. Besides, Locke thought that to enforce outward conformity to certain religious practices was hypocritical as it left untouched “the inward persuasion of the mind.” There was also the “slippery slope argument” that if one allowed the zealous magistrate to enforce religious beliefs in the name of the welfare of the people, then what was to stop them interfering in every other aspect of a person’s life which affected their physical or spiritual wellbeing?
See this quote in context. He that pretends to be a successor of the apostles, and takes upon him the office of teaching, is obliged also to admonish his hearers of the duties of peace and good-will towards all men; as well towards the erroneous as the orthodox; towards those that differ from them in faith and worship, as well as towards those that agree with them therein: and he ought industriously to exhort all men, whether private persons or magistrates, if any such there be in his church, to charity, meekness, and toleration; and diligently endeavour to allay and temper all that heat, and unreasonable averseness of mind, which either any man’s fiery zeal for his own sect, or the craft of others, has kindled against dissenters. Oh that our ecclesiastical orators, of every sect, would apply themselves, with all the strength of argument that they are able, to the confounding of men’s errours! I will not undertake to represent how happy and how great would be the fruit, both in church and state, if the pulpits every-where sounded with this doctrine of peace and toleration; lest I should seem to reflect too severely upon those men whose dignity I desire not to detract from, nor would have it diminished either by others or themselves. This caution and temper they ought certainly to use towards those who mind only their own business, and are solicitous for nothing but that, whatever men think of them, they may worship God in that manner which they are persuaded is acceptable to him, and in which they have the strongest hopes of eternal salvation. It is not enough that ecclesiastical men abstain from violence and rapine, and all manner of persecution. In this passage he calls for the complete separation of church and magistrate:And the zealots hardly have patience to refrain from violence and rapine, so long till the cause be heard, and the poor man be, according to form, condemned to the loss of liberty, goods or life. He was the prime mover in the development of political philosophy and Epistemology, the branch of science dealing with the theory of knowledge. 5 Four Letters concerning Toleration (John Locke) By: John Locke. But if any man do not frequent the church, if he do not there conform his behaviour exactly to the accustomed ceremonies, or if he brings not his children to be initiated in the sacred mysteries of this or [23] the other congregation; this immediately causes an uproar, and the neighbourhood is filled with noise and clamour. John Locke (1632-1704) was also known in his lifetime as a staunch defender of religious toleration.
Died At Age: 72. Zoom through some famous sayings, thoughts and quotes by John Locke on on thinking, actions, knowledge, interpretations, reading, truth, humor, equality, defense, liberty, independence, courage, money, philosophy, life and belief. Let them not call in the magistrate’s authority to the aid of their eloquence, or learning; lest perhaps, whilst they pretend only love for the truth, this their intemperate zeal, breathing nothing but fire and sword, betray their ambition, and show that what they desire is temporal dominion.But this is not all. In the Age of Enlightenment, he held the reputation of being one of most influential and prominent thinkers. He was an ardent believer of the fact that education is the beginning of the journey of a gentleman but reading and company must finish him. Let them not supply their want of reasons with the instruments of force, which belong to another jurisdiction, and do ill become a churchman’s hands. Let any man pull down, or build, or make whatsoever expences he pleases, no-body murmurs, no-body controls him; he has his liberty. And if any one that professes himself to be a minister of the word of God, a preacher of the gospel of peace, teach otherwise; he either understands not, or neglects the business of his calling, and shall one day give account thereof unto the Prince of Peace. 38 Thought-Provoking Quotes By John Locke, The Father Of Liberalism .