The modern definition of tolerance can be summarized as: the act or practice of allowing, experiencing, and accepting thoughts, beliefs, and practices different from one's own . This modern notion of tolerance is very different from that expressed in Benjamin Kaplan's book, Divided by Faith. Kaplan explores the idea that the practice of tolerance among various religious sects between approximately 1550 and 1790 is very different from the notion we hold today. Kaplan argues that religious tolerance (or intolerance) must be viewed with an understanding of the complex socio-political situations that existed during the era of denominationalism. Kaplan seeks to shift the reader's attention from examining the Reformation from the perspective of the nobles and those who wrote the laws to that of the people who actually had to live and practice tolerance on a daily basis (7). Kaplan divides his book into four sections. : Obstacles, arrangements, interactions and changes. In these sections, Dr. Kaplan seeks to establish that tolerance was not just an intellectual concept or policy but a “form of behavior: peaceful coexistence with others…” (8). Kaplan seeks to explain why this early modern practice of tolerance was successful in some regions during certain periods and not in others. This article will explain how Kaplan was able to delve into tolerance and demonstrate his hypothesis. Kaplan first seeks to establish the reasons why religious tolerance was so difficult to obtain in the early modern era. A common feeling among people in the early modern period was that religion was what held a community and a state together. Because of this view, religion and civic issues were almost entirely integrated......in the middle of the newspaper......and after everything calmed down a bit, the idea of ​​tolerance became limited to specific populations and not to each part of society. structure. Kaplan's final point is that even with strong religious differences existing between people within communities, those same people could lead civil lives with one another (358). If we view Kaplan's book as a summary of many of the events we have discussed throughout class this semester, it helps solidify the complexity of reform in modern Europe. This is in line with recent historians who believe that traditional conceptions of tolerance and reform are outdated and need to be examined more closely. Considered from all angles (or at least from those that we can observe), the reform presents itself from the angle of a very vast and difficult social, political and religious situation which will be continually revisited...