ABSTRACT
In Chapter 14 of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus (TTP) Baruch Spinoza brings to the forefront his concern with the Christian Church, and how to reform it. Although Spinoza's proposal for religious peace went unheeded Chapter 14 remains of capital importance for understanding what that proposal was. Spinoza's scientific and logical approach was superior to Calixtus' in the way rationalism sometimes is to empiricism. The TTP has the merit of introducing many of Spinoza's most controversial ideas in a form that is more easily accessible. Spinoza classifies among the adiaphora some of the doctrines most cherished by sectarian Christians. Spinoza's main concern in the whole of the TTP is to show how a non-heretical, non-sectarian pluralism of this kind is possible. In the republic Spinoza envisages, a plurality of sects will arise, all equally entitled both to the respect of the state and to the title of Christianity.
