A Letter concerning Toleration
Locke distinguishes the civil authorities’ concern with temporal interests from religious practice and membership in a church. His argument for toleration nevertheless contains important exclusions.
Understanding the text
First published in Latin in 1689 after Locke’s Dutch exile, the letter does not defend universal religious freedom: it notably excludes atheists and restricts the place of Catholics.
Key points
- 01
Civil power
Public coercion cannot directly produce sincere religious conviction.
- 02
Church
A religious community is presented as an association distinct from civil government.
- 03
Exclusions
Restrictions placed on certain groups must be examined alongside the theory of toleration.
Explore the ideas in depth
Toleration and exclusions
Read the Letter by confronting principles with historical limits.
Civil power
Public coercion cannot directly produce sincere religious conviction. Locate the passage in its historical context and distinguish Locke’s claim from your contemporary examples.
Church
A religious community is presented as an association distinct from civil government. Compare the argument with an objection and examine which assumptions remain implicit.
Exclusions
Restrictions placed on certain groups must be examined alongside the theory of toleration. Specify limits and affected people before generalizing the text’s conclusion.
Questions to carry into your reading
- Why does coercion not produce sincere belief?
- Which groups remain outside this toleration?
Identify beneficiaries and excluded groups before comparing the argument with contemporary rights.
How to read it
Identify beneficiaries and excluded groups before comparing the argument with contemporary rights.
Editions & sources
- Consult the reference 1plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 2plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 3iep.utm.edunew tab
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗