Religious Toleration Dbq Essay

The Protestant Reformation of 1517 to 1648 caused the widespread tension of religious tolerance, in which some religions took a particular direction regarding their practices and arguments. While some leaders, intellectuals and radical reformers supported the idea of religious toleration due to their beliefs in its contribution to unity, which would prevent turmoil and unrest, rulers and nobles of great power and rank opposed religious toleration due to their fears of heretics and the treacherous effect they would have on the uniformity of their states. In document 5, King Henry of Francce addresses religious toleration in his Edict of Nantes, which was signed on April 30 of 1598. It granted Huguenots or French Calvinists, religious freedom.

In contrast, Paul Hay du Chastelet, aristocrat and political writer, portrays indignation toward aristocratic leaders who stand for religious toleration. It is evident through document 7 that du Chastelet feared diversity of religion, in which he thought would effect the solidarity of the states. Similarly, King Louis XIV opposed religious toleration and banned all Huguenot worship in France in his Edict of Fontainebleau of 1685, which was also known as the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. It revoked the Edict of Nantes signed by Henry 1V by putting an end to the freedom of worship in France (Louis XIV 8). The agreement between Charles XII of Sweden and Holy Roman Emporer Joseph I in 1707 supported the idea of religious toleration. In document 10, it is stated, “… no one shall

He mentions that most sects are viewed as heretics because individuals of different religious beliefs disagree with them, causing all beliefs to be severed from society. He then says, “ Who would wish to be a Christian when he saw that those who confessed the name of Christ were destroyed by Christians themselves with fire, water, and the sword without mercy?” (Castellio 1). The quote reveals that the absence of tolerane caused destruction. Castellio wanted to maintain faith without losing stability. Through document 1, it is also portrayed that Castellio faced intolerance himself, making him a reliable source. He also displays irony in his book as he expressed censure toward Protestants, although he was a Protestant himself. Castellio wanted to warn the people that intolerance caused devastation and eliminated peace and integrity. He wanted to influence his readers and tried to make an effective effort by giving an explicit reason for religious toleration in Switzerland. On the contrary, Maria Theresa, Austrian empress, writes a private letter to her son, Joseph II, who is the heir to the throne in the Holy Roman Empire. The probability of the document is more believable, increasing the liability of honesty displayed by Theresa since the letter was not meant to be read by the public. In her letter, she