John Locke was an English philosopher and physician, regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of English empiricism and known as the "Father of Classic Liberalism". He was one of the first British empiricists. Influenced by the ideas of Francis Bacon, he made an important contribution to the theory of the social contract. His work greatly affected the development of epistemology and political philosophy. Locke's writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, thinkers of the French Enlightenment, as well as American revolutionaries. His contributions to classical republicanism and liberal theory were modified in the United States Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights of 1689. Although Locke was an advocate of tolerance, he urged the authorities not to tolerate atheism because he believed that denying the existence of God would undermine the social order and lead to chaos. As for Catholics, Locke believes that they cannot be trusted with a genuine loyalty to the law. (+info)