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During history some countries accepted some form of freedom of religion (e.g. Poland or certain Muslim countries) but very often that freedom was limited. In most parts of European society, freedom of religion was suppressed since the introduction of Christianity until the Enlightenment in the 18th century.
The ideas of religious tolerance on the political level were invented in the Central Europe: Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Hungary and Austria and were practised since 16th century. With expulsion of Polish brethren accused of high treason during The Deluge, the Central European ideas of tolerance were propagated to Netherlands. Until Enlightenment it was widely accepted, however not always fully implemented.
The Separation of Church and State is a related, but different concept.
Controversies in freedom of religion
See also