Today is the anniversary of King John Sigismund’s Edict of Torda in 1579. It established the right of ministers to preach the gospel as they best understood it, and, as well, for congregants to reserve their own opinions in these matters. In contemporary Unitarian Universalism (as in one or two other places) this has come to be called “freedom of the pulpit” and “freedom of the pew.”
It represented a major shift in thinking that was, perhaps of course, already beginning in various parts of Europe. And it had its limitations. While the language was universal, in fact it extended more or less complete freedom to only four groups, Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists and Unitarians. Other extant religious groups in Transylvania, Jews, Muslims and Christian Orthodox were officially “tolerated.” But, even with these limitations, this was a powerful step forward, a harbinger of a new vision for human relations.
And, for me, it is a treat to know that this edict was promulgated by a Unitarian king.
For a brief overview of the place and time and its principal players and most notably the preacher Francis David who inspired the King to this action, I recommend the late Dr Frank Schulman’s sermon “God is One.” (By the bye, the Wikipedia article on the Edict is also interesting, and at the same times reveals the limitations of Wikipedia…)
Hurrah for liberal religion!
Hurrah for freedom of thought!
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