is the condition of accepting or permitting others' Religious beliefs and practices which disagree with one's own.
In a country with a State Religion , ''toleration'' means that the government permits religious practices of other sects besides the state religion, and does not persecute believers in other faiths. Historically, toleration has been a contentious issue within many religions as well as between one religion and another. At issue is not merely whether other faiths should be permitted, but also whether a ruler who is a believer may practice or permit tolerance. In the Middle Ages , toleration of Judaism was a contentious issue throughout Christendom . Today, there are concerns about toleration of Christianity in Islamic States (see also Dhimmi ).
For individuals, religious toleration generally means an attitude of acceptance towards other people's religions. It does not mean that one views other religions as equally true; merely that others have the right to hold and practice their beliefs. Proselytism can be a contentious issue; it can be regarded as an offense against the validity of others' religions, or as an expression of one's own faith.
- 539 BC, Cyrus The Great issues a Declaration Of Religious Freedom ; first known recorded history of religious tolerance. British Museum, The Cyrus Cylinder, retrieved 01 June 2007
- 311 AD, The Roman Emperor Galerius issues a general edict of toleration in his own name and in those of Licinius and Constantine."Valerius Maximianus Galerius", Karl Hoeber, Catholic Encyclopedia 1909 Ed, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 313 AD, The Edict Of Milan issued by the Emperors Constantine I and Licinius proclaiming religious toleration in the Roman Empire."Constantine I", Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 Ed. retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1190 , Genghis Khan composes his code of law, the Yassa , in which there is religious freedom for all who were under his rule.
- 1554 , Castellio writes the pamphlet ''"De haereticis, an sint persequendi"'' (Whether heretics should be persecuted), the first modern appeal for toleration."Johann Brenz" Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 Ed. retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1571 , January 11 - Maximilian II declares religious toleration towards the nobles of Lower Austria, their families and workers;"Toleration--Exercitium Religionis Privatum", Walter Grossman, Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 40, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1979), pp. 129-134, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1573 , January 28 - Warsaw Confederation granting religious toleration."The Confederation of Warsaw of 28th of January 1573, UNESCO, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1598 , April 13 - King Henry IV Of France issued the Edict Of Nantes , allowing religious toleration of the Huguenot s."Edict of Nantes", Encyclopedia Britannica 15th Edition, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1609 , July 6 - Rudolph II grants religious toleration in Bohemia ."Rudolph II", Encyclopedia Britannica 15 Edition, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1657 , April 20 - New Amsterdam granted religious toleration to Jew s;
- 1829 , April 13 - British Parliament granted Catholic Emancipation in the spirit of religious toleration;
- 1900 Robert G. Ingersoll publishes his plea for religious liberty. {Link without Title}
- 1948 , December 10 The United Nations General Assembly issues the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights . Article 18 declares that everyone has the right to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, and to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."The Universal Declaration of Human Rights", United Nations 1948, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1965 , December 7 The Roman Catholic Church Vatican II Council issues the decree Dignitatis Humanae (Religious Freedom) that states that all people must have the right to religious freedom."Dignitatis Humanae", Decree on Religious Freedom, 1965, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
- 1986 , October 7 The first World Day Of Prayer For Peace is held in Assisi when representatives of one hundred and twenty different religions came together for prayer to their God or Gods. "ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II
TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES AND OF THE WORLD RELIGIONS" 1986, retrieved 01 June 2007. {Link without Title}
See Also: Religious intolerance
Contemporary authors such as Sam Harris , Richard Dawkins , Christopher Hitchens and Daniel C. Dennett have all written about the potential social hazards of allowing religious beliefs to go unchallenged. In '' The End Of Faith '', Sam Harris notes that we are unwilling, as a society, to tolerate unjustified beliefs in, for example, architecture. He asserts that we should be similarly unwilling to tolerate unjustified beliefs about morality, spirituality, politics, and the origin of humanity. In his Preface to '' The God Delusion '', Richard Dawkins says, "If this book works as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down."Dawkins, Richard. Preface ''The God Delusion''.
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