On the christian foundations of religious (in)tolerance – as seen by a historian of the modern period

Abstract

Tolerance and intolerance were major subjects in the confessional age, as the most evident form of “otherness” that Europeans had to confront were the religious differences. The aim of the study is an overview – based on recent scholarship – of the religious/spiritual factors that can be identified in the background of tolerant or intolerant behaviour in Early Modern and Modern Europe. Some scholars (mainly freethinkers) have argued that proneness to the persecution of heterodoxy and incapacity to peacefully coexist with other creeds is an inherent vice of Christianity. Others seem to be convinced that toler-ance and humanity are essential qualities of the genuine Christian faith founded on the authority of the Scriptures. In my study, I argue, as other scholars did, that looking into the various political contexts is imperative if we want to avoid generalizations and hasty judgements.