Name: a letter concerning toleration
Price: 17.14 EUR
Availability: InStock
Author: John Locke
ISBN: 9780879755980

Type

Physical Book

Author

John Locke

Publisher

Prometheus Books

Language

English

Format

Paperback

Dimensions

21.6 x 13.7 x 0.6 cm

Weight

0.12 kg.

ISBN

0879755989

ISBN13

9780879755980

Synopsis "a letter concerning toleration"

Ever since humankind raised its head toward the heavens in search of universal understanding and spiritual fulfillment, wars, pogroms, persecution, prejudice, and contempt have been the means of resolving the many and varied disagreements that have arisen over matters religious. In his Letter Concerning Toleration, Locke offers a compelling plea for freedom of conscience and religious expression. He outlines the limits of social and political incursion into the realm of personal belief or non-belief, discusses the dangers of mixing church and state, and strikes hard at those who would use the power of the state to fulfill religious or political goals. Rational persuasion is always to be encouraged in the hope that wayward souls may find a moral direction in life, but the use of force in such matters is unwarranted and unacceptable. Locke also addresses the question of denominational infighting and relations among the major religions. Talk of heresy and schism should be set aside in favor of understanding and cooperation to achieve mutually desirable social ends.

John Locke

(Author)

View Author's Page

John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher who laid the foundations of the European Enlightenment. Locke believed that each branch of government should have separate powers, that freedom should be protected from state interference, and that the state should protect its citizens' private property. These ideas greatly influenced the founding fathers of the United States. Locke also proposed a new theory of knowledge acquisition based entirely on experience and reflection.

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