Voltaire's View Of Religion

Before we delve deeply within the revolutionary, philosophical mind of François-Marie Arouet, or better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire, it is important that we first identify his basic ideals and philosophy on a religious and political spectrum. Voltaire was a French philosopher during the enlightenment period who, building off the foundations forged by the Greek stoics that came before him, challenged people to think rationally and analytically rather than blindly accept information of which the masses see as truth. While many might associate his satirical writings of religion as an affiliation with atheistic beliefs; contrarily, Voltaire was a Deist (meaning he believed in a singular, all powerful, omniscient god). In fact, he, himself,

The idea that men could kill each other over the interpretation of a religious doctrine, of which they mildly comprehend, was, to him, indeed repulsive. Yet he reserved his most intense hatred for the catholic clergy, who exploited the faithful masses to further their political agenda and provide extensive monetary luxuries. Voltaire argues that, “it is our souls which are under the clergy's care, solely for spiritual things,” and in the same respect, “Our soul acts internally; internal acts are thought, volition, inclinations, acquiescence in certain truths. All these acts are above all coercion, and are within the ecclesiastical minister's sphere”. Here, Voltaire argues that the church, being in the business of religious and internal beliefs, should only be able to meddle in affairs within one’s beliefs; thus, the church in his mind should disassociate itself from political and judiciary interests entirely. Yet, Voltaire takes it a step further urging, “Obedience to ecclesiastical order must consequently always be free and voluntary,” and adding that ecclesiastical punishments should only be spiritual; the burdens, of which, should exclusively be felt within those who are at fault. It is through these beliefs that Voltaire concludes that the government should be hesitant to rely on the church for matters not concerned with spirituality, stating, “The sovereign … must permit no enterprise which puts the members of society in external and civil dependence on an ecclesiastical