Question

Read paragraph 16 from the section "Religious

Beliefs Are Private":
Locke's view of the relation of church and state
also changes the purpose of laws. "The business
of the law," Locke wrote, "is not to provide for
the truth of opinion, but for the safety and
security of the commonwealth and of every
particular man's goods and person."
What can be inferred from this paragraph?
A. John Locke believed that the opinions of most rulers
were ill-founded and inaccurate.
B. John Locke believed that the personal opinions of those
in power should not influence law.
C. John Locke felt that people were untrustworthy and
needed to be monitored by the government.
D. John Locke felt that laws should reflect what the
government thinks is in the best interest of its people.

Answer 1

John Locke believed that laws should protect individual rights and not enforce personal opinions, and the opinions of those in power should not influence legislation. His ideas formed the basis for the separation of church and state and the notion of a social contract. Option b is the answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the provided paragraph on John Locke's view of the relationship between church and state, it can be inferred that Locke believed the primary purpose of laws was to ensure the safety and security of the commonwealth and protect the goods and person of individuals, rather than to enforce the truth of opinion. Therefore, the best answer is B. John Locke believed that the personal opinions of those in power should not influence the law. Locke argued that a government's legitimacy came from the social contract between the governed and the governors, which is designed to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. If a government fails to protect these rights or acts against the will of the people, the social contract is broken, and the people have the right to establish a new government. This perspective laid the groundwork for the separation of church and state, emphasizing that religious beliefs were private matters and should not dictate public law.