The Development of Religious Toleration in England. 1640-1660

in a worn dust jacket. Harvard Univ. Press, 1938. Jordan, W.K. (1902-1980). The Development of Religious Toleration in England from the Convention of the Long Parliament to the Restoration, 1640-1660: The Revolutionary Experiments and the Dominant Religious Thought. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1938. First edition. 560 pp. Publisher's maroon gilt stamped cloth, very good, in a lightly worn dust jacket. Internally clean. $85. * This detailed study examines how the idea of religious toleration evolved in England during the turbulent years of the English Civil War and the Interregnum. This book, published in 1938, is the third volume in a larger four-volume series by Jordan covering the topic from the English Reformation to 1660. Jordan chronicles the radical and diverse religious ideas that flourished after the collapse of the pre-war Anglican system. With the removal of the monarchy and the episcopacy, an unprecedented period of religious and intellectual experimentation began. The book analyzes the major ideological and religious arguments that both promoted and opposed the concept of toleration during this period. It investigates how Puritan and other non-conformist groups, who initially sought freedom from the Church of England, struggled with the question of whether to extend that same freedom to others. The 1640-1660 period was characterized by political and religious upheaval. The book examines the debates that took place in Parliament and among religious leaders, as well as the experiences of various dissenting groups such as the Independents, Baptists, and Quakers. Despite some criticisms for its focus and interpretations, the work is considered foundational to the study of religious toleration in England. Jordan's extensive research provides a well-sourced and comprehensive account of the events and ideas that shaped the development of religious freedom in England. …