John Locke Salvation Of The Soul

Saving soul is left to everyone
First of all, John Locke claims that the salvation of the soul is an individual right. To understand exactly what he means by that, we shall refer back to his theory on the state of nature, as addressed in Second Treatise of Government. According to Locke, society derived from the state of nature, which is a perfect state of freedom and equality. What he means by that is every human being in that state are completely free to order their actions and dispose of their person as they think fit. There is no authority above, no one has more power than anyone else. In other words, Locke state of nature is peaceful. We live together according to reason without a superior watching over us. We are our own authority. Yet, the threat of instability as he …show more content…
The role of the State is to secure those civil interests. With that in mind, Locke's first argument that the magistrate has no business in the salvation of the soul as it is reserved for individual rights is directly connected to his state of nature. By leaving this state, men agreed to give up legislative power into the hand of the state while conserving executive power. Lock argues that the power of legislative cannot extend further than the common good, as it is addressed: “which is the sole reason of men’s entering into society, and the only thing they seek and aim at in it. And it is also evident what liberty remains to men in reference to their eternal salvation, and that is that everyone should do what he in his conscience is persuaded to be acceptable to the Almighty, on whose good pleasure and acceptance depends their eternal happiness.” The fact that men agreed upon entering society to preserve their property means they are willing to separate the powers while retaining possession of their rights to decide how to make use of their own soul and body. We consent to secure ourselves through the State, not our soul, as “every man’s soul belongs unto