Voltaire On The Church, True R :: essays research papers

Voltaire an eighteenth century French philosopher and prolific writer is well known for his literary sarcastic attacks. One of Voltaires attacks was of traditional Christianity and the Catholic church in On Toleration. He criticized the church on the grounds that it was overly superstitious. There were many superstitions that were held by the church a geocentric universe, the tides not being due to gravity, a rainbow not being a phenomenon of light, etc. Voltaire felt that the most grievous of these superstitions was the belief that altogether those who follow their own religion are given eternal salvation and all others will suffer eternal damnation. The result of this was severe persecution of those who had a doctrine other than their own. Voltaires satirical view of this is evident when he says, And is it not evident that it would be even more reasonable to worship the sacred navel, the sacred prepuce, and the milk and dress of the Virgin Mary, than to hate and persecute one s brother (1109). Assuredly Voltaire believed that it was incredibly foolish of humankind to persecute their fellow men for having beliefs that did not coincide exactly with their own. His detest of such actions can be inferred from his suggestions that the worship of such bizarre things as the sacred navel, foreskin, and the dress and milk of Heavenly Mother being more certain than the great persecutions of people based on religious pretext. Voltaire did not feel that this was what religion was about. He felt the true religion to be The Golden Rule, that is to complete thy neighbor as thyself. This becomes evident in Voltaires Religion.In Religion Voltaire describes one of his meditations. During this experience Voltaire thought about an archangel which took him to a place where he came in contact with many great philosophers among them Christ. Voltaire met the resurrected Christ, covered still with the wounds from his violent death. The two of them spoke, Voltaire questioning Ch rist as to His condemnation and death. Voltaire asked Christ if his purpose was to teach a new religion to which He repliedNot at all I said to them simply--Love God with all your heart and your fellow-creatures as yourself, for that is mans whole duty. Judge if this teaching is not as old as the universe judge if I brought them a new religion.