How did Spinoza argue for freedom of thought and speech?

In his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, Benedict de Spinoza argued for freedom of thought and speech based on the premise that no individual can be forced to hold a specific belief, as the mind is inherently free. He maintained that people should be permitted to develop their own thoughts and express them, provided such expression does not interfere with the state.1

Spinoza’s advocacy for intellectual liberty was rooted in his belief that human life achieves its highest quality only when reason is employed "unshackled". He argued that governments should not attempt to turn citizens into "beasts or puppets" but should instead enable them to develop their minds and bodies in security.2

Furthermore, Spinoza viewed the protection of philosophical opinion as essential to political stability. He contended that religious persecution and the suppression of belief could lead to civil war, thereby destroying the state. By promoting a "universal religion" (religio catholica) focused on justice and charity, he sought to create a framework where individuals could not be persecuted for their beliefs, allowing philosophers the freedom to pursue truth and attain knowledge.3