THE HIGHER VALUES OF SCIENCE 305 



Rome suffered in consequence. The spirit of toleration, 

 which thus existed in ancient times, was followed by the 

 intolerance and persecutions of the Middle Ages, which 

 were only brought to a close by the changes in intellectual 

 outlook resulting from scientific knowledge. As the spirit of 

 truth-seeking became more prevalent, doubt arose. With 

 the advent of doubt, persecution began to wane. 



The persecutions sanctioned by the Medieval Church were 

 an outcome of the doctrine of exclusive salvation. ,0 Since 

 there was but one manner of salvation, the Church was jus- 

 tified in maintaining that it should " compel them to enter 

 in. " The justification of coercion being admitted, persecu- 

 tion followed. Pagan worship succumbed, the Jews in Europe 

 were horribly maltreated, the attempts of Frederick II to 

 found a humane culture in southern Italy were stamped out, 

 the Protestant defection brought on the Religious wars. 

 Protestantism proved little better. Calvin burnt Servetus 

 because of his views regarding the Trinitjr. The Puritans in 

 England and America persecuted those who did not accept 

 their dogmas, and were in turn subjected to persecution fol- 

 lowing the Restoration. The first real step toward toleration 

 in England was the growth of skepticism regarding the doc- 

 trine of exclusive salvation which had been at the root of per- 

 secution. The date of the Toleration Act (1689) is signifi- 

 cant, although its passage was largely the result of political 

 changes. Throughout this span of fifteen centuries, from the 

 decline of the old to the appearance of the new spirit of 

 toleration, it is evident that not one sect or group was at 

 fault, but rather a frame of mind that gave unquestioning 

 allegiance to traditional beliefs and that regarded as impious 

 the doubts which eventually put an end to an insufferable 

 situation. The history of the decline of belief in magic and 

 witchcraft might be used in further illustration of the func- 

 tions of skepticism. But the foregoing outline of the passing 

 of religious intolerance will suffice. 



10 Lecky, W. E. H., "History of Rationalism in Europe." 



