Toleration

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas and politics behind the idea of religious toleration. In 1763 Voltaire remarked that “of all religions, the Christian is undoubtedly that which should instil the greatest toleration, although so far the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men”. Christian intolerance was brutally enforced across Western Europe in the Middle Ages and the Reformation, with inquisitions, executions, church courts and brandings with hot irons. But during the English Civil War a variety of Christian sects sprang up which challenged the imposition of state religion and opened the floodgates to religious diversity.What were the politics and philosophy behind the idea of toleration in England? Did the rise of toleration go hand in hand with the rise of the secular, or were tolerationists - in fact - deeply religious? And how does toleration differ from tolerance?

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Guests

• Justin Champion 11 episodes
  Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London
• David Wootton 16 episodes
  Professor of Intellectual History at Queen Mary, University of London
• Sarah Barber 2 episodes
  Senior Lecturer in History at Lancaster University

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Programme ID: p004y288

Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004y288

Auto-category: 323.442 (Civil and political rights—freedom of religion)

Hello (First sentence from this episode)

Hello, in 1763 Voltaire remarked that, quote, of all religions the Christian is undoubtedly that which should instill the greatest toleration, although so far the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men, unquote.