John Locke, Freedom of Religion & America

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Will the USA Come to Regret Trading Religious Tolerance for Rank Indifference?

 

John Locke, Freedom of Religion & America

 

Kelly OConnell (Bio and Archives) Sunday, April 14, 2013

 

I. Who Was John Locke, Freedom’s Greatest Philosopher?

 

Englishman John Locke (1632—1704) is arguably our most influential modern thinker. He is regarded as the leading light of several signal movements, without which the modern era would be inconceivable, including—Classical Liberalism (aka modern Conservatism), Property Rights, the Enlightenment, Libertarianism, Empiricism, Natural Rights, and Freedom of Religion, etc.

 

Locke enjoyed notable friendships and debates with some of the leading figures of his day, including Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, the 1^st Lord Shaftesbury Ashley Cooper, etc. Locke was also deeply religious, considering himself a Christian, and undertaking a lifelong study of theology and biblical commentary. One author describes his influence:

 

John Locke was a 17th-century English philosopher whose ideas formed the foundation of liberal democracy and greatly influenced the American Revolution. He taught all people are born equal and education can free people from the subjugation of tyranny. Locke believed government was morally obligated to guarantee individuals always retained sovereignty over their own rights, including property ownership resulting from their own labor. http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/54470