Religion and Tolerance: Faith Without Tyranny

England's religious landscape was volatile: the rise of Protestantism, Henry VIII’s break with Rome, and societal upheaval. Utopia’s stance:

  • Diverse religions coexist without persecution—philosophical tolerance is prized  


  • Religion serves morality, not dogma; clergy are educated and socially engaged.



Though a devout Catholic, More criticized religious authority’s hypocrisy, value placed on wealth, and moral failings—especially among the clergy entrapped in privilege and ignorance.

  Education: Civic Engagement, Not Elitism


Utopia’s citizens are well-educated:

  • Everyone learns reading, arithmetic, civic law, and agriculture.


  • Given the era’s limited upward mobility and a narrow education reserved for elites, this vision highlighted Tudor society’s failures.


  • More’s ideal proposed a state that empowers all citizens through education—recognizing shared responsibility and bridging class divides. shutdown123

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