Enlightenment philosophers helped change the intolerant ideologies of the Renaissance era, and propelled western culture into a new realm. John Locke was one of these great philosophers that helped inspire advancement. During the Renaissance era, the Catholic church reigned supreme over Europe, and committed countless atrocities to keep its power. Fearing that change would weaken it, the church imprisoned revolutionary thinkers like Galileo Galilei, Martin Luther, and Nicolaus Capernicus. John Locke sought to show these flaws in his work, Letters Concerning Toleration. He discussed how people cannot possibly prove that one religion is better than another, and wrote that enforcing a single religion would require violence - something that is against the fundamental values in all religions. John Locke’s ideas concerning religious tolerance were widely accepted by scholars and citizens alike.
Voltaire was also an influential philosopher during this time period whose ideas greatly differentiated from those of the church. He viewed the church as an oppressive institution and once stated, “Our religion is without a doubt the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and the most bloody to ever infect the world.” He further showed his opposition to Catholic ideals by writing about religious tolerance, as well as how all races are equal. The times were changing, and the old ways of the Catholic church were quickly vanishing. These philosophers’ writings were popular among other intellectuals of the time, and their ideas soon resonated with the general public, instigating a change in religion that had lasted hundreds of years.
Team 2 (Adrian Little, Seth Moore, Max White, James Kawakami)
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