Presentation on John Locke’s A Letter Concerning Toleration Report (Assessment)

Introduction

In pages 37-62, John Locke discusses the necessity of toleration in relation to different religious views accepted in the society and focuses on the idea to distinguish between the civil jurisdiction and religion.

The main points discussed by Locke are:

1. The necessity to differentiate between civil jurisdiction and religion.
2. The role of the magistrate’s power regarding the issue of idolatry.
3. Articles of faith and the issue of the person and magistrate’s responsibility for salvation.
4. Tolerating the church effectively.
5. Permission of different religious visions in the church.
6. The issue of heresy and schism.

Main Points

The necessity to differentiate between civil jurisdiction and religion

• The issue of differentiation between civil jurisdiction and religion is discussed in pages 37-39.
• In paragraph 1, page 37, Locke asks about possibilities to distinguish between civil jurisdiction and religion and pays attention to the magistrate’s authority in relation to religion.
• Referring to the notion of ‘indifferent things’, Locke answers his question in paragraph 1 presented at page 38 where he states that ‘indifferent things’ cannot be introduced into religion even if they are under the magistrate’s jurisdiction.
• The idea is developed and modified in paragraph 4, page 39, where Locke states that the magistrate’s responsibilities are limited by responding to the interests of any man because the magistrate should take care for avoiding prejudice (Locke, 2009, p. 39).

The role of the magistrate’s power regarding the issue of idolatry

• In pages 40-44, Locke focuses on the issue of the prince and magistrate’s power to influence the problem of toleration related to the issue of idolatry.
• In paragraph 6 presented at pages 40-41, Locke states that there should be the balance regarding introducing everything into religion in order to avoid prejudice or idolatrous visions, and there should be bounds according to which the prince and the magistrate can change anything related to the religion according to their civil power.
• In paragraph 7, page 42, Locke develops his argument and states that idolatry can be discussed as a sin which cannot be tolerated.
• However, in paragraph 9, page 43, Locke claims that, despite the double consideration, the focus is on the magistrate’s position because the magistrate should always be tolerant (Locke, 2009, p. 44).

Articles of faith and the issue of the person and magistrate’s responsibility for salvation

• In pages 45-49, Locke discusses articles of faith and the issue of person’s salvation with references to the magistrate’s responsibility for it. In paragraph 12, page 45, Locke states that he cannot agree with allowing all the possible speculative opinions and preaching, but following the idea of laws, such toleration is necessary to provide the safety of the commonwealth.
• In paragraphs 14-16, pages 46-48, Locke adds to his vision, stating that men’s rights for worshipping cannot be violated, and persons are responsible for their salvation independently because such an approach is contributing to protecting the commonwealth’s safety.
• In paragraph 17, page 49, Locke states that the magistrate’s responsibility for the public’s good begins from his responsibility for his own soul, and such an approach will lead to the public peace (Locke, 2009, p. 49).

The church should be tolerated by the magistrate effectively

• In pages 50-54, Locke discusses the effectiveness and principles of tolerating the church by the magistrate. In paragraph 22, page 51, Locke states that the magistrate can oppose involving different religious movements into the church and society.
• In paragraph 26, page 53, Locke explains his idea stating that the magistrate can be afraid of the other churches because of the possible social unrest.
• However, in paragraph 27, page 54, Locke reminds that different people follow different religious ideas, and toleration is necessary in the peaceful society (Locke, 2009, p. 54).

Different religious visions should be permitted in the church

• In pages 55-58, Locke proposes that different religious visions should be permitted in the society in relation to the church development.
• In paragraph 28-29, page 55-56, Locke concludes that people have the rights to be permitted to have different religious visions, as it is typical for the market place, for instance.
• In paragraph 30, page 57-58, Locke states that refusal of toleration regarding the church is main cause of evils in the society, as a result, toleration and diversity of visions are necessary (Locke, 2009, p. 57-58).

The issue of heresy and schism

• In pages 59-62, Locke pays attention to the issue of heresy and schism with references to the idea of toleration.
• In paragraph 31, page 59, Locke states that the representatives of the other religions cannot be discussed as heretic or schismatic in relation to Christians, referring to the idea of toleration.
• In paragraphs 32-34, pages 60-61, Locke concentrates on the fact that any separation in views related to heresy and schism cannot add to the development of the peaceful society.
• In paragraph 35, page 62, Locke concludes that the focus on schism is the separation in its nature, and it should be avoided (Locke, 2009, p. 62).

Reference

Locke, J. (2009). A Letter Concerning Toleration. USA: Cambridge University Press.