John Locke: The Unity Of Religious Tolerance

The Unity of Religious Tolerance

The Enlightenment era brought into effect of abolishing the old views and creating a new liberated view of life. One of these enlightened value was the freedom to practice religion. John Locke, an English philosopher during the age of the Enlightenment advocated for religious tolerance. Locke designed a foundation for any religion to consider and speak out against those who are religious intolerance. Locke’s belief of religious tolerance is still acknowledged and debated in modern society with Zeba Khan, a devout Muslim advocate fighting for the right to practice the Muslim faith and Majjid Nawaz, another devout Muslim advocate. Zeba Khan concludes that excluding a religion from basic rights and freedom

He tells people to change the injustice and promote a more humane world. Locke shows the importance of Maajid Nawaz, who also advocates for people to create morality around the world.

Second, Locke promotes that people should be tolerant of other religions and no men should discriminate against another’s religion. Maajid Nawaz strongly supports the tolerance of the Muslim religion, “ For peace, Islam should be with the other religion and beliefs. For one to understand a religion one should accept it as their own instead of discriminating others. ” (Islam is a religion of Peace-Intelligence Squared U.S.). Nawaz argues that Islam should be accepted with other religion. He implies that religious tolerance is necessary for individuals in a society to get along, especially when there is so much cultures and people with different religious beliefs in one community. By practicing religious tolerance one could obtain unity and thus create peace. In addition this ties in with Locke’s strong opposition for people who do not accept other religions. In Locke’s famous letter he writes, “The toleration of those that differ from others in matters of religion is so agreeable to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to the genuine reason of mankind, that it seems monstrous for men to be so blind as not to perceive the necessity and advantage of it in so clear a light. (A letter concerning Toleration). Locke

No private person has any right in any manner to prejudice another person in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church or religion. All the rights and franchises that belong to him as a man, or as a denizen, are inviolably to be preserved to him. These are not the business of religion. (A letter concerning Toleration) .

This proves that there should be no discrimination against any religion because anyone can have the right to believe in what they believe in. Locke says that people need to respect other religion and one should not deprive another of their right to perform their religion. “ I esteem it above all things necessary to distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion and to settle the just bounds that lie between the one and the other. If this be not done, there can be no end put to the controversies that will be always arising” (Essay Concerning Tolerance). Locke states that individuals are free to believe and practice their

Zheng 5 beliefs. Zeba Khan alike Locke deeply regards that everyone should have the freedom of rights to practice their religion in no circumstances of being condemned