“A Letter Concerning Toleration” by John Locke, Essay Example

In “A Letter Concerning Toleration” John Locke starts his argument with a statement that true Church must be tolerant. Nevertheless, it is natural for any individual or, especially, religious organization to claim that their faith, places of worship, traditions, etc. are unique and the only righteous ones. The Christians truly believe in the necessity of salvation so they are very active in converting the others into their religion. From the perspective of common sense, it may seem that the best way to do it is to demonstrate with own example how Christianity benefits one and changes his or her life. However, instead of that the Church used severe persecutions of those who dare to step out against it. Such actions are contrary to the salvation and the purity of Church (Locke, 1689).

According to the Bible, Locke continues, the Church was originally created by the soldier armed not with a sword but with the Gospel of peace. As a result, it is not righteous to make one change his faith by force. All people are equally entitled to life, liberty, and possessions so nobody is allowed to deprive them of these inalienable rights even in the name of faith or salvation of the soul. A religion is a private business and the civil authorities should be prohibited from involvement in its matters. Any Church should be a voluntary association for the purpose of joint worshipping and salvation of the souls. As it is voluntary, the people are free to join it or withdraw any time. The church cannot create any artificial ties and definitely should not be built on the fear of punishment.

Therefore the mutual toleration of private individuals with different religious beliefs is essential for the existence and development of free society (Locke, 1689). The church must always remain free and separate and distinct from the government. No religion should be used to violate one’s civil rights. All people are created equal and this equality does not depend on their choice of religious beliefs. No religion should be proclaimed false or destructive and no religious group has the right to punish the others for their ‘errors’. The government must tolerate all religious societies and cannot differentiate between the National Church and other congregations (Locke, 1689). As long as the church acts within the law (for instance, does not sacrifice infants), the magistrate must not limit them in their rites and traditions of worship. No one can be punished for not embracing a certain faith.

Locke describes a story how a certain territory becomes Christian. The missioners arrive in a Pagan country. The inhabitants provide them with all necessary means to live there. They form a small Christian minority. However, their group gradually grows as they convert the locals into their religion. Finally, they gain political influence and win the elections. But right after that their strategy radically changes. They change the rules and laws and start using violence and punishment. Usually they argue that by the Law of Moses, all idolaters must be rooted out (Locke, 1689). But it is not right to do so and that is the main problem of Roman Catholic Church.

Consequently, as religion is a private matter, it should be distinct from the government that must treat different religious groups as equal and with tolerance. Everybody should be permitted to go to any Church, kneel or use any other posture to prey in own house or religious building, to dress in the special cloth for the worshipping, and be engaged in traditional rituals as long as he or she does not break the law. The Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists, Armenians, Quakers, Pagans, Mahometans, Jews, and other religious groups should enjoy equality under the law and the same liberty (Locke, 1689). The freedom of faith actually prevents civil unrest as it limit governmental involvement in private affairs of the citizens. Only those religions that teach tolerance can and should be tolerated by the society.

References

Locke, J. “A Letter Concerning Toleration”. Constitution Society. 1689. 27 Oct. 2009. http://www.constitution.org/jl/tolerati.htm