Religious Liberty and the Quincentenary: Old World Intolerance, New World Realities, and Modern Implications

Abstract:     
In this article, Professor Finkelman discusses the journey to religious liberty and tolerance in America. At the time of Columbus’ voyage to the New World, Europe was exceedingly intolerant of religious diversity. Continuing into the Colonial period, each European nation that established a colony brought with it a different set of beliefs and traditions that it hoped to further in America. Professor Finkelman holds that it was the religious intolerance of Europe that made tolerance possible in the United States.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 37

Keywords: religious liberty

Accepted Paper Series