"No person or persons whatsoever within this province... professing to believe in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth be in any ways troubled, molested or discountenanced for or in respect of his or her religion, nor in the free exercise thereof... nor any way compelled to the belief or exercise of any other religion against his or her consent." — An Act Concerning Religion (the Maryland Toleration Act), 1649
Which key limitation of the act is evident in the excerpt itself?
- A
It applied only to free male householders who paid property tax
- B
It granted full toleration but only within Catholic churches
- C
It allowed worship but barred dissenters from owning land
- Dcheck_circle
Toleration extended only to Trinitarian Christians, excluding Jews and non-believers
Explanation
The phrase "professing to believe in Jesus Christ" excluded Jews, Muslims, and the irreligious. A separate provision of the act prescribed death for blasphemy or denying the Trinity.