Persecution and Toleration: The Long Road to Religious Freedom

Religious freedom is a widely held value in the West, but its history is often misunderstood. Noel D. Johnson and Mark Koyama's book provides a novel explanation of its birth, combining economic reasoning with historical evidence from medieval and early modern Europe.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Religious freedom has emerged as a paramount value in the Western world, deeply ingrained in constitutions and embraced by politicians and thinkers from diverse political ideologies. It is regarded as an absolute value, beyond reproach, by many. However, the origins and reasons behind the emergence of religious liberty remain widely misunderstood. In their groundbreaking work, Noel D. Johnson and Mark Koyama delve into the historical trajectory of religious persecution, spanning from the Fall of Rome to the present day. Through a novel approach, they offer a fresh explanation for the birth of religious liberty. This book combines economic reasoning with historical evidence from medieval and early modern Europe, providing a comprehensive treatment of the subject. The authors elucidate the economic and political incentives that shaped the actions of political leaders during periods of state building and economic growth, shedding light on the complex interplay between religion, politics, and society.

Religious freedom has become an emblematic value in the West, deeply ingrained in constitutions and embraced by politicians and thinkers from diverse political ideologies. It is regarded as an absolute value, beyond reproach, by many. However, the origins and reasons behind the emergence of religious liberty remain widely misunderstood. In their groundbreaking work, Noel D. Johnson and Mark Koyama delve into the historical trajectory of religious persecution, spanning from the Fall of Rome to the present day. Through a novel approach, they offer a fresh explanation for the birth of religious liberty. This book combines economic reasoning with historical evidence from medieval and early modern Europe, providing a comprehensive treatment of the subject. The authors elucidate the economic and political incentives that shaped the actions of political leaders during periods of state building and economic growth, shedding light on the complex interplay between religion, politics, and society.

Religious freedom has emerged as a paramount value in the Western world, deeply ingrained in constitutions and embraced by politicians and thinkers from diverse political ideologies. It is regarded as an absolute value, beyond reproach, by many. However, the origins and reasons behind the emergence of religious liberty remain widely misunderstood. In their groundbreaking work, Noel D. Johnson and Mark Koyama delve into the historical trajectory of religious persecution, spanning from the Fall of Rome to the present day. Through a novel approach, they offer a fresh explanation for the birth of religious liberty. This book combines economic reasoning with historical evidence from medieval and early modern Europe, providing a comprehensive treatment of the subject. The authors elucidate the economic and political incentives that shaped the actions of political leaders during periods of state building and economic growth, shedding light on the complex interplay between religion, politics, and society.

Weight: 536g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108441162