Myths, Memories and Illusions: Religious (In)Tolerance in European History

The history of religious diversity in Europe is one of paradoxes. On the one hand, Europe is often presented as extremely diverse and the cradle of ideas about religious toleration and freedom. On the other hand, it has been marked by perennial religious wars, conflicts and tensions. From a global comparative perspective, Europe is historically actually less religiously diverse than other regions in the world and often remains perceived as Christian. This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the history of religious tolerance in Europe from Late Antiquity until today. We will consider different strategies that have been used to ‘manage’ religious diversity. We will explore some key moments and examples of religious peace-making, consider the emergence of different forms of religious toleration (most of which are included in RETOPEA’s clippings’ collection) and discuss how these differ depending on context, place and time. The chapter will also reflect on the meaning of notions of religious toleration, peace and freedom and consider how the history of religious diversity has been represented: what is remembered, forgotten and imagined?