Knowra Religious toleration Religious toleration Religious toleration is acceptance of people’s right to practice beliefs different from those of political or religious authorities, without coercive suppression.
Edict of Milan : A decree issued in 313 CE that granted religious freedom to Christians and others in the Roman Empire. It established an early imperial precedent for ending official persecution, though not modern equality among religions.
Freedom of religion : The right to hold, change, practice, or reject religious beliefs without state coercion. Religious toleration is one historical and political basis for this broader right.
Religious freedom : The legal and moral liberty to hold, change, manifest, or reject religious beliefs. Freedom frames religious practice as a right, while toleration can imply permission granted by a stronger authority.
First Amendment to the United States Constitution : The constitutional amendment that protects freedoms including religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition in the United States. Its religion clauses prohibit establishment and protect free exercise, giving toleration constitutional form.
Peace of Augsburg : A 1555 agreement that let rulers in the Holy Roman Empire choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism for their territories. It addressed religious conflict through territorial choice rather than individual freedom of conscience.
Freedom of conscience : The liberty to form and follow one’s moral or religious convictions without coercion. Toleration protects outward practice by limiting authority over inward conviction.
Religious pluralism : The coexistence and recognition of multiple religious traditions within a society. Pluralism describes a social condition or ideal beyond merely allowing religious difference.
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom : A 1786 Virginia law that barred government establishment of religion and protected freedom of religious exercise. It translated arguments for conscience rights into a landmark statute.
Wars of the Three Kingdoms : A series of conflicts from 1639 to 1651 across England, Scotland, and Ireland, involving disputes over religion and political authority. The conflicts intensified arguments over whether religious uniformity could be imposed by rulers.
Establishment clause : A constitutional rule barring government establishment of religion, especially the First Amendment clause in the United States. Disestablishment can prevent state preference from undermining equal religious toleration.
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