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Hello, in 1763, Walter remarked that, quote,

Of all religions, the Christian is undoubtedly that which should instill the greatest toleration.

Although so far, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men.

Christian intolerance was brutally enforced across Western Europe in the Middle Ages and the Reformation,

with inquisitions, executions, church courts and brandings with hot ions.

But during the English Civil War, a variety of Christian sects sprang up which challenged the imposition of state religion and opened the floodgates to religious diversity.

What were the politics and philosophy behind the idea of toleration in England?

Did the rise of toleration go hand in hand with the rise of the secular?

Or were the tolerationists, in fact, deeply religious?

And how does toleration differ from tolerance?

We're meant to discuss the development of toleration at David Wooten, Professor of Intellectual History at Queen Mary University of London,

just in champion, Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway University of London,

and Sarah Barber, Senior Lecture in History at Lancaster University, just in champion.

What is toleration and how does it differ from tolerance? And why must we keep that distinction in mind throughout this discussion?

I think probably the easiest way to think about the distinction is to think of the language of tolerance as an individual disposition.

It's about forbearance. It's an individual putting out with something they don't really like,

but restraining themselves from being hostile or coercive.

Toleration, I would argue, is probably more social policy. It's something a state does.

It's an attitude towards minorities. It's the withdrawal of coercion against that minority.

So there's a distinction between individual and social policy, I think.

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