John Locke's Christianity

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 26; pp. 131 - 134
• Main Author: Coffey, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Calvinism; Christianity; Christology; Consciousness; Jewish people; Locke, John (1632-1704); Morality; Philosophers; Religion; Religious orthodoxy; Salvation; Sin; Theologians; Theology
• ISSN: 0954-0970

On Scripture, Locke (like the Socinians and many Arminians) inferred biblical authority from the moral excellence of the Scriptures and held staunchly to sola scriptura against Catholics (and even orthodox Protestants) who invoked the authority of tradition. [...]on toleration, Lucci emphasises that Locke promoted both the separation of church and state and Christian irenicism, wishing to limit the power of the magistrate and to broaden the sympathies of the clergy. Because his theory of toleration was rooted in 'his religious conception of life and morality' (208) he was able to extend toleration to believers of all stripes (including Muslims, Jews and pagans). In the eighteenth century, English Dissent would be increasingly divided between its evangelical and rational wings, the former looking to Owen and the Puritan divines, the latter to Locke and other figures of the religious Enlightenment.