john Locke argued for toleration for all EXCEPT atheists and Roman Catholics (he was an Englishman and thus referred to the Catholic Church as "Roman"); the former as they were not bound by vows to a higher authority and the latter because they were bound to a foreign prince.
In Locke's opinion, rulers only had the authority to enforce law if it was for the public good. John Locke was an English philosopher.
Kenneth A. Locke has written: 'The church in Anglican theology' -- subject(s): Doctrines, Christian union, Church of England, Church
Locke implies that legitimate government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. When laws are enacted without the people's consent, they lose their legitimacy, and individuals have the right to challenge such authority. This reflects Locke's belief in the social contract, where the people's collective agreement is essential for a government's moral and legal foundation. Consequently, citizens are justified in establishing a new government to protect their rights and interests.
The doctrine of divine rights was a belief that monarchs derived their authority directly from God. Some thinkers, like John Locke, sought to challenge this idea by arguing that political power should be based on consent of the governed rather than divine authority.
Supporters of absolute monarchy largely rejected John Locke's ideas, viewing them as a direct challenge to their authority. Locke's advocacy for natural rights, government by consent, and the right to revolt against unjust rulers threatened the foundations of absolute rule. They argued that such democratic principles could lead to chaos and undermine social order, insisting that a strong, centralized authority was necessary for stability and security. Consequently, they dismissed Locke's theories as radical and dangerous.
Locke's ideas challenged Europe's traditional order by proposing that individuals had natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which were independent of government authority. This contrasted with the prevailing belief in the divine right of kings and absolute monarchy, leading to a shift in political thought towards ideas of popular sovereignty, constitutional government, and individual rights. Locke's philosophy played a significant role in the development of modern democratic principles and had a lasting impact on political theory and practice.
John Locke's writings, particularly his ideas on natural rights and the social contract, significantly influenced Voltaire's philosophy. Locke's emphasis on reason, individual liberty, and the separation of church and state resonated with Voltaire's advocacy for civil liberties and religious tolerance. Voltaire adopted Locke's rational approach to governance and human rights, using it to challenge authoritarianism and promote Enlightenment ideals. This intellectual exchange helped shape Voltaire's critiques of dogma and his belief in the power of reason and freedom of thought.
The Church had to much power.
John Locke argued that government holds its authority only with the consent of the people. He believed that individuals have natural rights that should be protected, and that government exists to secure these rights through the consent of the governed.
John Locke believed that political power should rest with the people, emphasizing the importance of individual rights and the social contract. According to Locke, governments are established to protect life, liberty, and property, and they derive their authority from the consent of the governed. If a government fails to uphold these rights, citizens have the right to revolt and establish a new authority. Thus, Locke championed the idea of limited government and the notion that power should be accountable to the populace.
The need for a separation between church and state dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. Whether it's the trial of Socrates or the persecution of Christians, many of the world's greatest injustices have come from combining one's belief system with the laws of its government. john Locke stressed the importance of not allowing the State to combine religion and state law by explaining that man is entitled to authority over his individual conscience, and the State has no power to supersede that authority.
Perhaps it may be the Aristocracy or the Population because Locke's plea is initially for a government with limited authority. The Aristocracy and Population are both responsible for constructing the government. --B. Nixon