II.Why did More support Freedom of of Faith?
Since the forms of ceremonies are not very important in a religion,then it is not very important to believe in a particular religion only if it is devoted to virtues.Thomas More and his familiar friend Desiderius Erasmus were among the forerunners of the religious tolerance movement in the 16th century.In this respect,the most famous sentence in Utopia is that‘no one shall suffer for his religion’.[8]Contemporary scholars in the West think highly of More and Erasmus.Perez Zagorin emphasizes that‘Both men usually figure in histories of religious toleration,and their place in this history must be accurately ascertained.’[9]Sanford Kessler's appreciation may be higher than any others when he says that,‘although More's ultimate stance toward this version of religious freedom is ambiguous,he publicly touted its merits just prior to the Protestant Reformation and approximately 175 years before John Locke wrote his highly influential A Letter on Toleration.’He also points out that,‘Locke's work contains arguments that are remarkably similar to More's.’[10]
Why did More support faith freedom or religious tolerance?We can find two main reasons from his works:
1.Religions are of some unknown or mysterious natures.It implies that sometimes we are not able to discern which is wrong or which is right in the affairs of faith.More held that if faiths are let free to fight against each other,then bad religions might replace good ones,and holy faiths might disappear in the world.Later,we call this phenomenon the Gresham's law(bad money drives out good).More told us that in view of this result,King Utopus left the problem of faith‘all an open matter and made it free to each to choose what he should believe.’[11]More also explained the reasons why King Utopus adopted the policy of religious freedom:
On religion he did not venture to dogmatize himself,being doubtful whether God did not inspire different people with different views,and desire a varied and manifold worship.But assuredly he thought it both insolence and folly to require by violence and threats that all should agree with what you believe to be true;moreover,if it should be the case that one religion is true and all the rest false,he foresaw that if the matter were dealt with reasonably and moderately,truth by its own natural force would come out,and be clearly seen;but if contention and armed violence were employed,seeing that the worst men are always the most obstinate,the best and holiest religion would be overwhelmed because of the conflicting false religions,like cornbecoming overgrown by thorns and bushes.[12]
2.Religious freedom is needed for a state to keep political stability,and at the same time it also accords with the interests of true religions.More tells us that Utopus'policy of religious freedom was‘not merely from regard to peace,which he saw to be utterly destroyed by constant wrangling and implacable hatred,but because he thought that this peace was in the interest of religion itself.’Here political stability was more important than any other affairs in a country.King Utopus'religious policy wholly came from the considerations of peaceful ruling in Utopia.So he ordained that,‘it should be lawful for every man to follow what religion he chose;that each might strive to bring others over to his own,provided that he quietly and peaceably supported his own by reasoning and did not bitterly try to demolish that of others;if his persuasions were not successful,he was to use no violence and refrain from abuse,but if he contended too vehemently in expressing his views,he was to be punished by exile or enslavement.’[13]