Religious intolerance

Definition

Religious intolerance is the unwillingness to accept or respect different religious beliefs, practices, or communities. This often leads to discrimination, persecution, and conflict between groups with differing faiths. In early American society, this intolerance was significant, influencing various events and movements, including the sermons of influential religious leaders who promoted certain beliefs while condemning others.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cotton Mather and Increase Mather were key figures in the Puritan community, known for their sermons that often reflected a strict view on morality and religious conformity.
2. Religious intolerance during this period often targeted dissenters and non-Puritans, leading to harsh treatment and societal exclusion.
3. The Mathers' sermons contributed to an environment that justified persecution under the guise of preserving spiritual purity within the community.
4. Increase Mather emphasized the dangers of heresy and the necessity for societal unity under Puritan beliefs, which fostered an atmosphere of intolerance.
5. This intolerance not only affected individual lives but also shaped broader societal norms and legal frameworks that governed religious practice in early America.

Review Questions

• How did Cotton Mather and Increase Mather's sermons reflect the concept of religious intolerance in early American society?
  • The sermons of Cotton Mather and Increase Mather exemplified religious intolerance by promoting a rigid adherence to Puritan beliefs and condemning any deviation from these ideals. They portrayed dissenting views as threats to social harmony and spiritual integrity, thus justifying harsh measures against those who did not conform. Their rhetoric reinforced the idea that only those within the Puritan fold were true believers, contributing to a culture of exclusion and persecution.
• In what ways did the environment created by the Mathers' sermons impact individuals who held differing beliefs during their time?
  • The environment shaped by the Mathers' sermons led to significant repercussions for individuals with differing beliefs. Dissenters faced social ostracism, legal penalties, and even violent persecution as the community rallied around a narrow interpretation of acceptable faith. This not only stifled diversity of thought but also created a climate of fear where individuals had to either conform or risk severe consequences for their beliefs.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of religious intolerance as promoted by early American religious leaders like the Mathers on contemporary American society.
  • The long-term implications of religious intolerance promoted by early leaders like Cotton Mather and Increase Mather have been profound in shaping contemporary American society. The legacy of exclusionary practices laid a foundation for ongoing debates about freedom of religion, tolerance, and pluralism. While America has made strides towards inclusivity, echoes of past intolerance continue to influence discussions around religious rights and the separation of church and state, reminding us of the importance of protecting diverse beliefs in a multicultural society.

Related terms

Theocracy: A system of government in which priests or religious leaders control the government, often enforcing religious laws and doctrines.

Persecution: The systematic mistreatment of individuals or groups based on their religious beliefs, often resulting in violence or social ostracism.

Dissent: The expression of opinions that differ from the established doctrine or authority, particularly in a religious context.