John Locke On Separation Of Church And State

John Locke wrote many essays on separation of church and state and was one of the first to start a movement towards this type of society, although church and state may have been separated, his call for religious tolerance may have fallen on deaf ears and still isn’t achieved even today. In a recent article by the New York Times, written by chief White House correspondent Peter Baker, he explores the possible designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. As proved by Locke’s writings religious tolerance isn’t a new idea by any means, yet in the modern day world of terrorism, to what extent does tolerance extend until it becomes passive. One argument Baker presents is that the brotherhood has openly promoted and supported the palestinian group, Hamas, a terrorist organization, setting themselves up for a situation like this. …show more content…
Terrorism is something very new, something even living generations didn’t experience as children, and is a major hurdle when trying to incorporate Locke’s values as a foreign policy. Acceptance and freedom can often be taken away because of actions like terrorism and arguments can be made until the end of time as to whether Locke and his goals should be embraced as a foreign policy or whether violence can justify taking away freedoms. In conclusion, Locke and his ideas have greatly influenced how we govern today, as seen in our laws, and Baker’s article highlights how we approach Locke’s ideals in the world of today. The world may be heading towards many directions, possibly dark times or hopefully prosperous times, but one thing for certain, the takeaway from Locke's writing will live on forever and whatever direction the world takes his principles will continue to influence governments around the