The Effect of European Religions

From the 16th to 18th century, Europe underwent various religious changes that had an enormous impact on the religious state of Europe as a whole. It tested nearly all rulers regarding their ability to either conform or accept the religious changes in an attempt to tolerate them or disregard any change and not recognize them. Various European rulers took different approaches where some rulers tolerated these new changes under certain conditions and others didn’t practice any kind of toleration. Some rulers were even willing to compromise in regards to religious toleration in order to maintain the peace and unity among their citizens.

During and after the Protestant Reformation, European thinkers and rulers believed that toleration would be the right thing to do for the betterment of the country and for their people. A prime example of religious toleration was the proclamation of the Edict of Nantes by King Henry IV of France. Given the fact that King Henry IV himself was a former Protestant and that Protestants were a minority in France, he was able to pass this edict in an attempt to end ongoing religious strife between Catholics and Protestants. Although he was able to allow them basic rights, they had to “comport themselves in other things as is contained in this edict” (Doc 5). This shows that although he was willing to allow toleration in his kingdom, he had to set forth some conditions in an attempt to not upset the Catholic majority. Another clear example of religious toleration can be clearly seen by Voltaire, a French writer and philosopher. He states that “if only one religion were allowed in England, the Government would very possibly become arbitrary” (Doc 11). In other words, having the government declare a state rel...

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... all the easier to harm us” (Doc 2). This shows that both parties were willing to compromise because they had no other choice but to ally themselves with each other in order to defend themselves from a common enemy. Although the kingdoms mentioned above may not have wanted to compromise and allow religious toleration, they did so because they were “forced” into it and was the only choice that they had.

Religious toleration throughout the 16th-18th century was constantly changing due to the Protestant Reformation and political strife between other kingdoms. Some rulers and thinkers believed that toleration was the best opportunity for their people and would prevent civil wars while other rulers believed the exact opposite. On the other hand, some were inevitably “forced” to compromise because of their situation and toleration was a consequence of certain events.