مجلة الرسالة للدراسات والبحوث الإنسانية

The Limits Of Toleration In John Locke’s A Letter Concerning Toleration

Auteurs : Ragua Ahmed .

Résumé

John Locke is regarded as one of the most important philosophers who defended tolerance, especially religious tolerance. His ideas emerged in the seventeenth century amid conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. In his Letter Concerning Toleration (1689), written during his exile in the Netherlands, Locke argued that the state should not interfere in matters of faith because salvation concerns the individual and God alone. The role of political authority is limited to protecting civil rights, property, and social order. Despite advocating tolerance, Locke imposed certain limits on it. He believed that tolerance should not extend to those who threaten social stability, challenge political authority in the name of religion, or deny God’s existence, since he considered belief in God essential for maintaining social trust and obligations. Locke also distinguished between heresy within the same religion and differences between separate religions, such as Christianity and Islam. Thus, his concept of tolerance remained selective, shaped by religious, political, and social considerations linked to preserving civil society.

Mots clés

Tolerance ; Intolerance ; State ; Religion ; Law ; Ruler