Title For as long as there has been organized religion there have been critics of said religion. Although a deist himself, Voltaire would often mock other religions. His satirical wit in Candide pokes fun at the religious entities along the spectrum from Catholics to Protestants. The typical response to religion in Candide is not one of a positive notion. However, Voltaire provides us with examples of religion with a positive connotation on his journey to secure Cunégonde. Religious tolerance was not a widely accepted ideal, and Voltaire often ridiculed the fact that religious separation would pit groups against each other, even to the point of war. In chapter three, after Candide is banished from Thunder-Ten-Tronckh, he approaches a man …show more content…
He takes the time to mock these various religious, mainly centered on Catholicism, through irony, basically going against what the order stood for (Franciscans and poverty, Theatines and virtue). It is humorous when Candide and Cacambo are faced with the death of cannibalism. As Cacambo attempts to reason with the natives, Candide reminds him to tell the natives that Christian ethics forbid eating your fellow man (Chapter 16). Candide appears to be sarcastic with this remark, saying that morals have zero impact on a person’s actions, as seen from previous examples. In addition, Candide was placed in the face of danger, specifically on the basis that he was a Jesuit. Perhaps a warning of the hazard of organized religious orders. Voltaire perhaps had a plan for changing the idea of organized religion. In chapter 18, Candide and Cacambo speak with an older gentleman. The gentleman explains the religious simplicity of Eldorado. The people of Eldorado thank God continually because they have already been granted what they need (Chapter 18). Candide was “overjoyed” with this response, which, in turn could be translated to how Voltaire thought religion should operate, a religion grounded in simplicity with no clerical