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Which religious conflict is the setting for Nathan der Weise?
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Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gotthold Lessing, detail of an oil painting by Georg May, 1768; in the Gleimhaus, Halberstadt, Germany.
Nathan der Weise (Nathan the Wise) is set in 12th-century Jerusalem during the Crusades. The play explores the religious conflicts between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.1
Rather than promoting prejudice or warfare, the work advocates for religious tolerance and ethical conduct. Through the parable of the ring, the play suggests that adherents of these three faiths should demonstrate the truth of their religion through their actions rather than through dogmatic disputes.1