Religious Toleration, 1642-1658
- Created by: Clodagh
- Created on: 27-05-14 09:29
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- Religious Toleration, 1642-1658
- Protestant Religious Groups
- Cromwell believed the Civil Wars were God's way of preparing England for religious peace
- Cromwell thought that religious freedom was a fundamental right
- As long as people were loyal to the state, they could have their own religious beliefs
- There were limits to toleration - he disliked blasphemy or fanatics that wanted to force their views upon others
- Cromwell drew the line at Catholicism; Catholics were the anti-Christ
- There were limits to toleration - he disliked blasphemy or fanatics that wanted to force their views upon others
- As long as people were loyal to the state, they could have their own religious beliefs
- 1. Anti-tolerationists
- People who wanted religious uniformity and discipline
- e.g Scots wanted Presbyterianism in church order
- People who wanted religious uniformity and discipline
- 2. Conservative tolerationists
- People who wanted toleration for independent congregations but would accept a national established church
- Toleration for Baptists and Presbyterians but not Catholics
- Cromwell was seen as a conservative tolerationist
- The Toleration Act was introduced in 1650
- People who wanted toleration for independent congregations but would accept a national established church
- 3. Radical tolerationists
- People who supported very broad toleration
- These were a small minority which included Levellers and Quakers
- They believed that Christianity was non-coercive, it was open to interpretation
- People who supported very broad toleration
- The Instrument of Government allowed religious freedom so long as it did not cause the "civil injury of others"
- The cases of Biddle and Nayler highlighted the problem of having religious freedom and social order
- Baptists, Independents and Presbyterians were appointed as ministers - critics say the quality of church ministers was improved
- Cromwell attempted to maintain local church system so ordinary people could have worship
- The Position of Catholics
- Declaration to Ireland - Cromwell said they were the anti-Chrsit (Drogheda, Wexford)
- There was some form of toleration for Catholics during the Protectorate - there was freedom for radicals such as the Fifth Monarchists and Quakers
- The Paris-based Catholics called Holden and White proposed that a Catholic church would sit alongside Protestant churches and would be loyal to the Protectorate
- They proposed a parliamentary oath of allegiance for all Catholics
- The Jews
- Cromwell put a proposal in front of the Council of State
- A petition was produced by a Dutch Jew to allow Jews to live in England and practice freely as they had been expelled since 1290
- In December 1655 it was refused
- A petition was produced by a Dutch Jew to allow Jews to live in England and practice freely as they had been expelled since 1290
- Cromwell "unofficially" allowed Jews into England
- Jews would be converted to Catholicism
- Cromwell put a proposal in front of the Council of State
- Conclusion
- Overall Cromwell was very tolerant for his time
- He was the first English statesmen to make religious toleration the basis of government policy
- The treatment of the Irish was intolerant
- Protestant Religious Groups
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