Separating Politics from Institutional Religion: The Significance of John Locke’s Theory of Toleration

• Authors: Lucci Diego
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Nowadays, more than three centuries after John Locke’s affirmation of the separation between state and church, confessional systems of government are still widespread and, even in secular liberal democracies, politics and religion often intermingle. As a result, some ecclesiastical institutions play a significant role in political affairs, while minority groups and individuals having alternative worldviews, values, and lifestyles are frequently discriminated against. Locke’s theory of religious toleration undeniably has some shortcomings, such as the exclusion of Roman Catholics and atheists from toleration and an emphasis on organized religion in A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689). However, Locke’s theory of toleration, which presents a Christian’s defense of the civil rights of those who have different religious opinions, still provides powerful arguments for the oft-neglected separation of politics from institutional religion, thereby urging us to leave theological dogmas and ecclesiastical authorities out of political life.

Keywords

EN

atheism; Christianity; civil commonwealth; civil interests; Enlightenment; John Locke; morality; natural law; salvation; toleration

• Publisher: Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk; Fundacja Filozofia Na Rzecz Dialogu
• Journal: Dialogue and Universalism
• Year: 2021
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 67-87

Contributors

author

Lucci Diego

• American University in Bulgaria, 1 G. Izmirliev Sq., 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.