The Significance of Religious Reinterpretation to Locke's Theory of Religious Toleration

Political theorists in recent decades have largely overlooked John Locke's efforts to reinterpret theology and religion and the significance of these efforts to his theory of religious toleration. In this paper I argue that an important insight ties Locke’s writings on theology and religion with his writings on religious toleration: that religious toleration requires religious reformation. I consider four ways in which Locke reinterpreted Christian theology in his efforts to demonstrate that the Christian religion was essentially tolerant. I also argue that Locke adhered to a particular method while engaging in religious reinterpretation. Using this method, Locke was able to articulate religious arguments for toleration that could resonate with the more religiously-devout. Today, Locke's project of reinterpretation can still inform contemporary theorizing about religious toleration as well as considerations about the role of religious arguments in justifying values such as religious toleration.Master of Art