Books Five to Eight apply the principles of justice, equality and private judgment in a critical examination of the institutions of government, issues of toleration and freedom of speech, theories of law and punishment, and, finally, the institution of property.
The issue of religious toleration was of widespread interest in Europe in the 17th century.
Exploring issues of religious toleration, urban poverty, and constitutional reform, and mixing the genres of dialogue, commonplace book, and picturesque guide, the Colloquies became a source of challenge and inspiration for important Victorian writers including Macaulay, Ruskin, Pugin and Carlyle.
The persecuting emperor Valerian, however, became a Persian prisoner of war, and his son Gallienus issued an edict of toleration restoring confiscated churches and cemeteries.
In 1692, Kangxi issued an edict of toleration of Christianity ( or ): This edict elevates Christianity on equal status as Buddhism and Daoism in China.
Frequently, the issue of dissent and toleration has involved religious minorities.
In May 313, Maximinus issued one more edict of toleration, hoping to persuade Licinius to stop advancing, and win more public support.
The English Parliament's Act of Toleration (1689) left religious issues almost entirely to local discretion.
In 313, the joint emperors Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, a manifesto of toleration, which, among other things, granted Christians full legal rights.
In 313 an edict of toleration for all religions was issued, and from about 320 Christianity was favoured by the Roman state rather than persecuted by it.
