ABSTRACT
Once human societies reach a certain size and organisational complexity, and especially as they incorporate populations from different cultural traditions, a potential develops for religious, moral and ideological conflict. This has faced many societies from the earliest known states to the present day. The extent and seriousness of conflict over religious disagreement can, of course, vary. It can, for example, depend on features of the locally dominant religion or religions, as well as the state's understanding of its own role and limits. The soteriological and eschatological doctrines of traditional Christianity suggest that we are all in danger of eternal hellfire, while also having a chance of eternal bliss. When the stakes are so high, it is unsurprising that Christianity has proved to be an unusually intolerant and censorious religion whenever it has obtained access to secular power. Paradoxically or not, however, the Christian kingdoms of early modernity in the West produced a legacy of rich texts on religious toleration. Today, many questions remain as to what can and cannot be tolerated in liberal democratic societies, not least questions about how much room should be allowed for harsh expression of deep religious, moral or ideological disagreement.
