Our attitudes are hopefully more enlightened than our forebears towards diversity and equality. That is to say, there is no excuse for prejudice and bigotry in countries with a healthy respect for human rights.
The Age of Enlightenment occurred in Western Europe around the 17th century. Old values were challenged by new philosophical ideas. Radical thinkers put forward the notion that lives had equal value, whether you were of noble birth or humble origins.
In Reformation England, John Locke’s political ideas on natural rights would seem to indicate a man with a good grasp of equality issues. His views on religious tolerance were more in keeping with the times. Atheists and Catholics were somehow less equal than their Protestant neighbours.
A new document written by John Locke has come to light where he at least considers the premise that Catholics have equal rights. “If Papists can be supposd to be as good subjects as others they may be equally tolerated,” he writes. And: “If all subjects should be equally countenanced, & imployd by the Prince. the Papist[s] have an equall title.”
But apparently, he then argued against tolerance towards Catholics. It would be interesting to read how he argued that Catholics were “not as good subjects as others”.
odespinner 