The medieval ages are often seen as a backwards period full of intolerance, superstition and different religious groups slaughtering each other. Because of this, the unflattering nickname of ‘The Dark Ages’ has proven to be persistent. Although I would by no means bagatilize the religious violence of the medieval ages, I believe that this image is wrong. To the contrary, I believe that in some ways, the medieval period can teach us a lot about tolerance.
Let us for example look at the traditions of medieval philosophy in different religions, especially the Jewish and Islamic tradition. The interesting thing of these traditions is that both of them heavily inspired and influenced the other. The Jewish tradition of Mutakallimun for example, that focused on a philosophical interpretation of scripture and revelation, was strongly influenced by the Islamic tradition of Kalam that aspired the same goals in Islam. The medieval ages were full of similar examples of traditions from different religions that inspired each other, breached religious barriers and created great philosophy along the way.
Today we could learn a thing or two from that. The interactions between different branches of modern philosophy, with its continental and analytical branches that interacted relatively little until recently, seem little in comparison. Perhaps it is time that we learn from how Jews and Muslims broke religious barriers in the medieval ages, so that we can break our non-religious barriers today.
David's medieval philosophy blog 