Poli 3020
Study Question 7
"Why does Locke think most religions should be tolerated?
Locke says that most religion should be tolerated because if a government was to assign everyone to practice one particular religion and that religion is a false one the government will have essentially blocked all of its citizens from salvation and sent them to hell. How much can the government regulate churches? The Government can only regulate religious activities if they affect people in a material way, such as their bodies. The government cannot regulate any means of outward worship, They're speculative articles of faith or ideology, Or the Faith's moral beliefs. But in the case that a Church's moral beliefs directly affects a person whether it be themselves or others the government can legitimately regulate these beliefs. Which religions does Locke think should not be tolerated?"
Church that are intolerant and dangerous to members of other churches should not be tolerated by the government. Lock specifically names three types of religious beliefs: those are atheism because they will not obey moral law. No religion that requires its members to overthrow the existing government and take the powers themselves. Or one that requires individuals to pledge allegiance to a foreign power.
