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The Long Road to Religious Freedom: A Cambridge Studies in Economics Choice and...

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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Published in Persecution And Toleration: The Long Road To Religious Freedom (Cambridge Studies In Economics Choice And Society)

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The concept of religious freedom is a relatively modern one. For most of human history, religion has been closely intertwined with politics, and the state has often played a role in enforcing religious orthodoxy. Only in the past few centuries have people begun to enjoy the right to practice their faith without fear of persecution.

Persecution and Toleration: The Long Road to Religious Freedom (Cambridge Studies in Economics, Choice, and Society)

by Noel D. Johnson

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4020 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	368 pages

The Long Road to Religious Freedom tells the story of how this right came to be. The book draws on a wide range of sources, including legal documents, religious texts, and philosophical treatises, to provide a nuanced and detailed account of the complex relationship between religion and the state.

The book begins by examining the ancient world, where religion was often seen as a matter of public policy. In ancient Greece, for example, the state was responsible for enforcing religious orthodoxy, and dissenters were often persecuted. In the Roman Empire, the state initially tolerated religious diversity, but it eventually began to persecute Christians and other religious minorities.

The rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire marked a turning point in the history of religious freedom. Christians were often persecuted by the Roman authorities, but they eventually gained a measure of toleration under the emperor Constantine. In the centuries that followed, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and religious freedom was largely suppressed.

The Renaissance and Reformation brought about a renewed interest in religious freedom. Humanist scholars began to argue that individuals should be free to choose their own religion, and Protestant reformers challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. These ideas eventually led to the development of the modern concept of religious freedom.

In the United States, the First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. This right has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to mean that the government cannot interfere with the practice of religion, even if it finds that practice to be harmful or offensive.

The Long Road to Religious Freedom is a fascinating and informative account of the historical development of religious freedom. The book provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of religion, law, or philosophy.

John Coffey, The Long Road to Religious Freedom: A Cambridge Studies in Economics Choice and... (Cambridge University Press, 2023).
Michael J. McClymond, Encyclopedia of Religious Freedom (Routledge, 2018).
John Witte Jr., Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment: Essential Readings (Oxford University Press, 2015).

Persecution and Toleration: The Long Road to Religious Freedom (Cambridge Studies in Economics, Choice, and Society)

by Noel D. Johnson

4.7 out of 5