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The Reasonableness of Christianity

John Locke · 1695

Locke's 1695 book arguing for a simple, reason-based reading of scripture as the foundation of Christian belief.

Locke's own book setting out the religious reasoning that underlies his broader philosophy of toleration.

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Title page of The Reasonableness of Christianity, As delivered in the Scriptures, printed in London for Awnsham and John Churchill at the Black Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, 1695. Handwritten annotations appear at the top right and in a ruled area.
John Locke, The Reasonableness of Christianity, 1695.

About this source

What it is

The Reasonableness of Christianity, as Delivered in the Scriptures is a book written by John Locke and published in 1695. In it Locke applies reasoned, step-by-step argument to scripture, exploring how human reason can uncover the meaning of God's word.

Why it matters

The book reveals the religious convictions that underpinned Locke's wider philosophy, including his arguments for toleration, by showing how he tried to ground Christian faith in reason and natural law rather than dogma. It proved controversial for omitting discussion of the Trinity, drawing criticism from theologians such as Edward Stillingfleet, Jonas Proast and John Edwards, while others including John Tillotson and Samuel Clarke defended it.

Look closer

  • Why might leaving out discussion of the Trinity have been controversial in Locke's time?
  • How does Locke's use of reason here connect to his philosophy of knowledge?
  • What does the criticism this book received tell us about religious debate in the 1690s?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Locke on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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