British philosopher John Locke’s “A Letter Concerning Toleration” (1689) is an impassioned plea for religious toleration — Locke was responding to widespread British fear that Catholicism might overtake Britain during that time period (Britain’s Church of England had broken with Papal authority in the sixteenth century). His unequivocal response is countenancing complete religious toleration by and for all affected parties.
For this assignment, you are only to cover the first three chapters of the “Letter.” They are:
1. The insincerity of the zealots (pp. 1-3);
2. The role of the civil magistrate (pp. 3-4);
3. What is a church? (pp. 5-6)
Using many direct quotations from the text, show, in order:
1.Why Locke considers religious zealots (i.e., religious fanatics) insincere;
2.The role of the civil magistrate (the civil leader of a state — they who make and enforce the state’s laws);
3.What properly defines a church
All of these taken together will offer Locke’s blueprint for proper religious toleration; this is the overall focus of the assignment — a rationale for tolerance. Be sure to stay focused on this underling idea.
