Autonomous Communities As A Solution For Ethnic And Religious Freedom In Hungary And Transylvania--Historical And Systematic Reflections

Abstract

The editor of the recently published book, The coexistence of nationalities in Transylvania in View of the Decrees of the Transylvanian Parliament 1790-1848, recommends that this book should be read by all Transylvanians and possibly even by other citizens of Europe. In this chapter the author takes this opportunity to acquaint a few citizens of Europe, and even citizens from across the ocean, with the land of national and religious freedom - Transylvania. The author's presentation has three parts. The first part presents the historical back ground of the socio-political situation in which the religious freedom of Torda had evolved. The second part talks about the Reformation in Transylvania, as the direct cause of religious freedom. The third part presents the difference between the religious freedom in Transylvania and the interpretation of religious tolerance in the era of Enlightenment.Keywords: Europe; religious freedom; religious tolerance; socio-political situation; Torda; Transylvania