The Reasonableness of Christianity

work by Locke

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

John Locke's The Reasonableness of Christianity (1695) posits that individuals possess the inherent ability, through Scripture and reason, to understand their duties and achieve salvation. Locke advocated for a balance between essential Christian doctrines and individual freedom of conscience, suggesting that differences in worship should be tolerated as long as all Christians accept Jesus as the Messiah and follow his teachings. This work aligns with the Latitudinarian movement and other liberal theological trends, significantly influencing Protestant thought. Locke believed that reason could discern basic moral truths, ultimately stemming from a natural moral order.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

John Locke
Other works of John Locke
Locke’s The Reasonableness of Christianity(1695) is the most important of his many theological writings. Central to all of them is his belief that every individual has within him the abilities necessary to comprehend his duty and to achieve salvation with the aid of the Scriptures. Locke…
Read More
Locke’s The Reasonableness of Christianity(1695) is the most important of his many theological writings. Central to all of them is his belief that every individual has within him the abilities necessary to comprehend his duty and to achieve salvation with the aid of the Scriptures. Locke…
Read More