1001Philosophers

Sebastian Castellio 1515 – 1563

Sebastian Castellio (1515 – 1563) was a French philosopher of the Modern era, associated with Renaissance and Christian Philosophy.

Sebastian Castellio was a French Reformed theologian and one of the earliest sustained defenders of religious toleration. After collaboration with Calvin in Geneva and Strasbourg, he broke with the Genevan Reformation over the execution of Michael Servetus in 1553 and produced Should Heretics Be Persecuted? and Concerning Heretics: Whether They Are to Be Persecuted, anthologies of patristic and Reformation argument against the use of the sword in matters of conscience. He spent his later years in poverty as professor of Greek at Basel and is now widely regarded as one of the founders of the modern doctrine of freedom of conscience.

Key facts

Nationality
French
Era
Modern
Movements
Renaissance, Christian Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Sebastian Castellio:

    “To kill a man is not to defend a doctrine; it is only to kill a man.”

  • Attributed to Sebastian Castellio:

    “If we cannot agree, let us at least not damn one another.”

  • Attributed to Sebastian Castellio:

    “Faith cannot be commanded by force.”

  • Attributed to Sebastian Castellio:

    “Doubt is the soul's path toward truth.”

  • Attributed to Sebastian Castellio:

    “The persecutor never speaks for Christ, however much he claims to.”

Sebastian Castellio by topic

Frequently asked about Sebastian Castellio

When did Sebastian Castellio live?
Sebastian Castellio was born in 1515 and died in 1563.
Where was Sebastian Castellio from?
Sebastian Castellio was a French philosopher of the Modern era.
What philosophical movements is Sebastian Castellio associated with?
Sebastian Castellio was associated with Renaissance and Christian Philosophy.
What was Sebastian Castellio known for?
Sebastian Castellio was a French Reformed theologian and one of the earliest sustained defenders of religious toleration.
How many quotes are attributed to Sebastian Castellio?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Sebastian Castellio in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.