What John Locke thinks about religion
English philosopher (1632 to 1704); Oxford academic and medical researcher; author of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and the Second Treatise of Government.
John Locke did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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10 dated positions, c. 1689, in their own words. Our reading of what John Locke has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Their wordsSince you are pleased to inquire what are my thoughts about the mutual toleration of Christians in their different professions of religion, I must needs answer you freely that I esteem that toleration to be the chief characteristic mark of the true Church.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Their wordsThe 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 (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Their wordsIn the second place, the care of souls cannot belong to the civil magistrate, because his power consists only in outward force; but true and saving religion consists in the inward persuasion of the mind, without which nothing can be acceptable to God. And such is the nature of the understanding, that it cannot be compelled to the belief of anything by outward force.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Their wordsNobody is born a member of any church; otherwise the religion of parents would descend unto children by the same right of inheritance as their temporal estates, and everyone would hold his faith by the same tenure he does his lands, than which nothing can be imagined more absurd.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Our readingNo person, church or state has a right to take others' civil rights or goods on religious grounds
Their wordsNobody, therefore, in fine, neither single persons nor churches, nay, nor even commonwealths, have any just title to invade the civil rights and worldly goods of each other upon pretence of religion.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Their wordsNo peace and security, no, not so much as common friendship, can ever be established or preserved amongst men so long as this opinion prevails, that dominion is founded in grace and that religion is to be propagated by force of arms.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Our readingWhatever is lawful in ordinary life should not be forbidden to a religious group in worship
Their wordsWhatsoever is permitted unto any of his subjects for their ordinary use, neither can nor ought to be forbidden by him to any sect of people for their religious uses.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Their wordsFor if men enter into seditious conspiracies, it is not religion inspires them to it in their meetings, but their sufferings and oppressions that make them willing to ease themselves.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Their wordsNay, if we may openly speak the truth, and as becomes one man to another, neither Pagan nor Mahometan, nor Jew, ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the commonwealth because of his religion.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book
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Their wordsIt is not the diversity of opinions (which cannot be avoided), but the refusal of toleration to those that are of different opinions (which might have been granted), that has produced all the bustles and wars that have been in the Christian world upon account of religion.
↗A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689; English translation attributed to William Popple)en.wikisource.org All 21 from this book