Două „afaceri” voltairiene şi geneza toleranţei religioase europene
Two Voltairian “Cases” and the Genesis of Religious Tolerance in Europe

Summary/Abstract: Religious tolerance is an issue extremely present in the life of humanity. Appeal to tolerance came out of the crisis of Reformation that was subjected to the turmoil of religious wars. Realization of the Protestant ways of tolerance showed its weak points by instability of internal fractions, but also by unequal reference to the old Roman-Catholic confession, or to the new radical forms of Protestantism. Europe of the 18th century needed to escape the whirl of intolerance exercised in the previous centuries. Similarly, this also meant abandonment of the Church in favour of state, and implicitly a clarification of the Church’s relation with the state. The Church (Protestant and Roman Catholic) lost its allies and political supporters, yet still preserving the Orthodoxy of previous centuries. Secularization of the Church and evolution of the society towards realization of tolerant public conscience became more and more evident. Yet, the necessity of tacit tolerance did not produce a de iure declaration of tolerance, only in isolated situations, as in Transylvania (1568) and Poland. In Bohemia, Hungary and Principality of Transylvania understanding the idea of tolerance was primarily connected by the relation of Catholicism with Protestantism and implicitly from the political-religious influence of the House of Habsburg over territories belonging to the crown. Tolerance was stopped in west by: parliamentary decisions Act of Tolerance, England, 1689, Edict of Tolerance from France 1787, Edict of Tolerance from the Hapsburg Empire 1781-82. Tolerance became implicitly also a historical issue of philosophy and theology. Tolerance of the Church became also an external issue of the relationship between the state and religious community. In addition, the issue of tolerance appeared as an aspect of laic authority manifestation and obedience requested by alliance state-church. Concordia or reciprocal tolerance was the term by which Europe tried to adjust its turbulent confessional life. By Concordie was wished a sort of Respublica Christiana of monolithic type. The conservatory Catholic reaction referring to confessional diversity aligned with the idea of haereticis non est servanda fides. Tolerance was widely debated in the 18th century. Four leading personalities: John Locke, Pierre Bayle, Voltaire and Rousseau thoroughly preoccupied with defining the term and putting it into practice. At the same time, Jurieu promoted the idea of mutual tolerance (“mutual pact”). In 1757 the issue of tolerance was not yet clearly defined. Distinct notions were under discussion: ecclesiastical tolerance (religious, theological) and the civil one. Different opinions on tolerance tried to influence political life. Diverse writings debated the subject: John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration (1667), Of the Difference between Civil and Ecclesiastical Power (1674), Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance (1763). Two Voltairian cases played an important role within the evolution o

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