CONTENTS
[ LIFE OF JEAN MESLIER BY VOLTAIRE. ]
[ I.] APOLOGUE.
[ II] WHAT IS THEOLOGY?
[ III.]
[ IV] MAN BORN NEITHER RELIGIOUS NOR DEISTICAL.
[ V] IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BELIEVE IN A GOD
[ VI] RELIGION IS FOUNDED UPON CREDULITY.
[ VII] EVERY RELIGION IS AN ABSURDITY.
[ VIII] THE NOTION OF GOD IS IMPOSSIBLE.
[ IX] ORIGIN OF SUPERSTITION.
[ X] ORIGIN OF ALL RELIGION.
[ XI] IN THE NAME OF RELIGION CHARLATANS TAKE ADVANTAGE
[ XII] RELIGION ENTICES IGNORANCE BY THE AID OF THE MARVELOUS.
[ XIII] CONTINUATION.
[ XIV] THERE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ANY RELIGION IF . . .
[ XV] ALL RELIGION WAS BORN OF THE DESIRE TO DOMINATE.
[ XVI] THAT WHICH SERVES AS A BASIS FOR ALL RELIGION IS VERY UNCERTAIN.
[ XVII] IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE CONVINCED OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.
[ XVIII] CONTINUATION.
[ XIX] THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS NOT PROVED.
[ XX] TO SAY THAT GOD IS A SPIRIT, IS TO SPEAK WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING
[ XXI] SPIRITUALITY IS A CHIMERA.
[ XXII] ALL WHICH EXISTS SPRINGS FROM THE BOSOM OF MATTER.
[ XXIII] WHAT IS THE METAPHYSICAL GOD OF MODERN THEOLOGY?
[ XXIV] IT WOULD BE MORE RATIONAL TO WORSHIP THE SUN THAN A SPIRITUAL GOD.
[ XXV] A SPIRITUAL GOD IS INCAPABLE OF WILLING AND OF ACTING.
[ XXVI] WHAT IS GOD?
[ XXVII] REMARKABLE CONTRADICTIONS OF THEOLOGY.
[ XXVIII] TO ADORE GOD IS TO ADORE A FICTION.
[ XXIX] THE INFINITY OF GOD AND THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF KNOWING THE DIVINE
[ XXX] IT IS NEITHER LESS NOR MORE CRIMINAL TO BELIEVE IN GOD THAN NOT TO
[ XXXI] THE BELIEF IN GOD IS NOTHING BUT A MECHANICAL HABITUDE
[ XXXII] IT IS A PREJUDICE WHICH HAS BEEN HANDED FROM FATHER TO CHILDREN
[ XXXIII] ORIGIN OF PREJUDICES.
[ XXXIV] HOW THEY TAKE ROOT AND SPREAD.
[ XXXV] MEN WOULD NEVER HAVE BELIEVED IN THE PRINCIPLES OF MODERN THEOLOGY
[ XXXVI] THE WONDERS OF NATURE DO NOT PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.
[ XXXVII] THE WONDERS OF NATURE EXPLAIN THEMSELVES BY NATURAL CAUSES.
[ XXXVIII] CONTINUATION.
[ XXXIX] THE WORLD HAS NOT BEEN CREATED, AND MATTER MOVES BY ITSELF.
[ XL] CONTINUATION.
[ XLI] OTHER PROOFS THAT MOTION IS IN THE ESSENCE OF MATTER
[ XLII] THE EXISTENCE OF MAN DOES NOT PROVE THAT OF GOD.
[ XLIII] HOWEVER, NEITHER MAN NOR THE UNIVERSE IS THE EFFECT OF CHANCE.
[ XLIV] NEITHER DOES THE ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF A GOD
[ XLV] CONTINUATION.
[ XLVI] A PURE SPIRIT CAN NOT BE INTELLIGENT
[ XLVII] ALL THE QUALITIES WHICH THEOLOGY GIVES TO ITS GOD ARE CONTRARY
[ XLVIII] CONTINUATION.
[ XLIX] IT IS ABSURD TO SAY THAT THE HUMAN RACE IS THE OBJECT AND THE END
[ L] GOD IS NOT MADE FOR MAN, NOR MAN FOR GOD.
[ LI] IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE OBJECT OF THE FORMATION OF THE . . .
[ LII] WHAT IS CALLED PROVIDENCE IS BUT A WORD VOID OF SENSE.
[ LIII] THIS PRETENDED PROVIDENCE IS LESS OCCUPIED IN CONSERVING . . .
[ LIV] NO! THE WORLD IS NOT GOVERNED BY AN INTELLIGENT BEING.
[ LV] GOD CAN NOT BE CALLED IMMUTABLE.
[ LVI] EVIL AND GOOD ARE THE NECESSARY EFFECTS OF NATURAL CAUSES
[ LVII] THE VANITY OF THEOLOGICAL CONSOLATIONS
[ LVIII] ANOTHER IDLE FANCY.
[ LIX] IN VAIN DOES THEOLOGY EXERT ITSELF TO ACQUIT GOD OF MAN'S DEFECTS.
[ LX] WE CAN NOT BELIEVE IN A DIVINE PROVIDENCE
[ LXI] CONTINUATION.
[ LXII] THEOLOGY MAKES OF ITS GOD A MONSTER OF NONSENSE, OF INJUSTICE
[ LXIII] ALL RELIGION INSPIRES BUT A COWARDLY AND INORDINATE FEAR
[ LXIV] THERE IS IN REALITY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN . . .
[ LXV] ACCORDING TO THE IDEAS WHICH THEOLOGY GIVES OF DIVINITY
[ LXVI] BY THE INVENTION OF THE DOGMA OF THE ETERNAL TORMENTS OF HELL
[ LXVII] THEOLOGY IS BUT A SERIES OF PALPABLE CONTRADICTIONS.
[ LXVIII] THE PRETENDED WORKS OF GOD DO NOT PROVE AT ALL . . .
[ LXIX] THE PERFECTION OF GOD DOES NOT SHOW TO ANY MORE ADVANTAGE . . .
[ LXX] THEOLOGY PREACHES THE OMNIPOTENCE OF ITS GOD
[ LXXI] ACCORDING TO ALL THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS OF THE EARTH
[ LXXII] IT IS ABSURD TO SAY THAT EVIL DOES NOT COME FROM GOD.
[ LXXIII] THE FORESIGHT ATTRIBUTED TO GOD
[ LXXIV] ABSURDITY OF THE THEOLOGICAL FABLES UPON ORIGINAL SIN
[ LXXV] THE DEVIL, LIKE RELIGION, WAS INVENTED TO ENRICH THE PRIESTS.
[ LXXVI] IF GOD COULD NOT RENDER HUMAN NATURE SINLESS, HE HAS NO RIGHT . . .
[ LXXVII] IT IS ABSURD TO SAY THAT GOD'S CONDUCT MUST BE A MYSTERY TO MAN
[ LXXVIII] IT IS ABSURD TO CALL HIM A GOD OF JUSTICE AND GOODNESS
[ LXXIX] A GOD WHO PUNISHES THE FAULTS WHICH HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED
[ LXXX] FREE WILL IS AN IDLE FANCY.
[ LXXXI] WE SHOULD NOT CONCLUDE FROM THIS THAT SOCIETY HAS NOT THE RIGHT . . .
[ LXXXII] REFUTATION OF THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF FREE WILL.
[ LXXXIII] CONTINUATION.
[ LXXXIV] GOD HIMSELF, IF THERE WAS A GOD, WOULD NOT BE FREE
[ LXXXV] EVEN ACCORDING TO THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES, MAN IS NOT FREE
[ LXXXVI] ALL EVIL, ALL DISORDER, ALL SIN, CAN BE ATTRIBUTED BUT TO GOD
[ LXXXVII] MEN'S PRAYERS TO GOD PROVE SUFFICIENTLY THAT THEY ARE NOT . . .
[ LXXXVIII] THE REPARATION OF THE INIQUITIES AND THE MISERIES OF THIS
[ LXXXIX] THEOLOGY JUSTIFIES THE EVIL AND INJUSTICE PERMITTED BY ITS GOD,
[ XC] REDEMPTION, AND THE CONTINUAL EXTERMINATIONS ATTRIBUTED TO JEHOVAH
[ XCI] HOW CAN WE DISCOVER A TENDER, GENEROUS, AND EQUITABLE FATHER
[ XCII] THE LIFE OF MORTALS, ALL WHICH TAKES PLACE HERE BELOW
[ XCIII] IT IS NOT TRUE THAT WE OWE ANY GRATITUDE TO WHAT WE CALL . . .
[ XCIV] TO PRETEND THAT MAN IS THE BELOVED CHILD OF PROVIDENCE
[ XCV] COMPARISON BETWEEN MAN AND ANIMALS.
[ XCVI] THERE ARE NO MORE DETESTABLE ANIMALS IN THIS WORLD THAN TYRANTS.
[ XCVII] REFUTATION OF MAN'S EXCELLENCE.
[ XCVIII] AN ORIENTAL LEGEND.
[ XCIX] IT IS FOOLISH TO SEE IN THE UNIVERSE ONLY THE BENEFACTIONS OF GOD
[ C] WHAT IS THE SOUL? WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT
[ CI] THE EXISTENCE OF A SOUL IS AN ABSURD SUPPOSITION
[ CII] IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE WHOLE OF MAN DIES.
[ CIII] INCONTESTABLE PROOFS AGAINST THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE SOUL.
[ CIV] THE ABSURDITY OF SUPERNATURAL CAUSES
[ CV] IT IS FALSE THAT MATERIALISM CAN BE DEBASING TO THE HUMAN RACE.
[ CVI] CONTINUATION.
[ CVII] THE DOGMA OF ANOTHER LIFE IS USEFUL BUT FOR THOSE WHO PROFIT BY IT
[ CVIII] IT IS FALSE THAT THE DOGMA OF ANOTHER LIFE CAN BE CONSOLING
[ CIX] ALL RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES ARE IMAGINARY
[ CX] EVERY RELIGION IS BUT A SYSTEM IMAGINED FOR THE PURPOSE . . .
[ CXI] ABSURDITY AND INUTILITY OF THE MYSTERIES
[ CXII] CONTINUATION.
[ CXIII] CONTINUATION.
[ CXIV] A UNIVERSAL GOD SHOULD HAVE REVEALED A UNIVERSAL RELIGION.
[ CXV] THE PROOF THAT RELIGION IS NOT NECESSARY
[ CXVI] ALL RELIGIONS ARE RIDICULED BY THOSE OF OPPOSITE . . .
[ CXVII] OPINION OF A CELEBRATED THEOLOGIAN.
[ CXVIII] THE DEIST'S GOD IS NO LESS CONTRADICTORY . . .
[ CXIX] WE DO NOT PROVE AT ALL THE EXISTENCE OF A GOD BY SAYING . . .
[ CXX] ALL THE GODS ARE OF A BARBAROUS ORIGIN; ALL RELIGIONS ARE . . .
[ CXXI] ALL RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES BEAR THE SEAL OF STUPIDITY OR BARBARITY.
[ CXXII] THE MORE ANCIENT AND GENERAL A RELIGIOUS OPINION IS . . .
[ CXXIII] SKEPTICISM IN THE MATTER OF RELIGION
[ CXXIV] REVELATION REFUTED.
[ CXXV] WHERE, THEN, IS THE PROOF THAT GOD DID EVER SHOW HIMSELF TO MEN
[ CXXVI] NOTHING ESTABLISHES THE TRUTH OF MIRACLES.
[ CXXVII] IF GOD HAD SPOKEN, IT WOULD BE STRANGE THAT HE HAD SPOKEN
[ CXXVIII] OBSCURE AND SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN OF ORACLES.
[ CXXIX] ABSURDITY OF PRETENDED MIRACLES.
[ CXXX] REFUTATION OF PASCAL'S MANNER OF REASONING
[ CXXXI] EVEN ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THEOLOGY ITSELF . . .
[ CXXXII] EVEN THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS, TESTIFIES . . .
[ CXXXIII] THE FANATICISM OF THE MARTYRS
[ CXXXIV] THEOLOGY MAKES OF ITS GOD AN ENEMY OF COMMON SENSE
[ CXXXV] FAITH IS IRRECONCILABLE WITH REASON
[ CXXXVI] HOW ABSURD AND RIDICULOUS IS THE SOPHISTRY OF THOSE . . .
[ CXXXVII] HOW PRETEND THAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE VERBAL TESTIMONY
[ CXXXVIII] FAITH TAKES ROOT BUT IN WEAK, IGNORANT, OR INDOLENT MINDS.
[ CXXXIX] TO TEACH THAT THERE EXISTS ONE TRUE RELIGION IS AN ABSURDITY,
[ CXL] RELIGION IS NOT NECESSARY TO MORALITY AND TO VIRTUE.
[ CXLI] RELIGION IS THE WEAKEST RESTRAINT THAT CAN BE OPPOSED . . .
[ CXLII] HONOR IS A MORE SALUTARY AND A STRONGER CHECK THAN RELIGION.
[ CXLIII] RELIGION IS CERTAINLY NOT A POWERFUL CHECK UPON THE PASSIONS
[ CXLIV] ORIGIN OF THE MOST ABSURD, THE MOST RIDICULOUS, AND . . .
[ CXLV] RELIGION IS FATAL TO POLITICS; IT FORMS BUT LICENTIOUS . . .
[ CXLVI] CHRISTIANITY EXTENDED ITSELF BUT BY ENCOURAGING DESPOTISM
[ CXLVII] THE ONLY AIM OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES IS TO PERPETUATE . . .
[ CXLVIII] HOW FATAL IT IS TO PERSUADE KINGS THAT THEY HAVE ONLY GOD . . .
[ CLXIX] A RELIGIOUS KING IS A SCOURGE TO HIS KINGDOM.
[ CL] THE SHIELD OF RELIGION IS FOR TYRANNY
[ CLI] RELIGION FAVORS THE ERRORS OF PRINCES
[ CLII] WHAT IS AN ENLIGHTENED SOVEREIGN?
[ CLIII] THE DOMINANT PASSIONS AND CRIMES OF PRIESTCRAFT.
[ CLIV] CHARLATANRY OF THE PRIESTS.
[ CLV] COUNTLESS CALAMITIES ARE PRODUCED BY RELIGION
[ CLVI] EVERY RELIGION IS INTOLERANT, AND CONSEQUENTLY DESTRUCTIVE OF
[ CLVII] ABUSE OF A STATE RELIGION.
[ CLVIII] RELIGION GIVES LICENSE TO THE FEROCITY OF THE PEOPLE
[ CLIX] REFUTATION OF THE ARGUMENT, THAT THE EVILS ATTRIBUTED TO RELIGION
[ CLX] ALL MORALITY IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH RELIGIOUS OPINIONS.
[ CLXI] THE MORALS OF THE GOSPEL ARE IMPRACTICABLE.
[ CLXII] A SOCIETY OF SAINTS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.
[ CLXIII] HUMAN NATURE IS NOT DEPRAVED
[ CLXIV] OF JESUS CHRIST, THE PRIEST'S GOD.
[ CLXV] THE DOGMA OF THE REMISSION OF SINS HAS BEEN INVENTED
[ CLXVI] THE FEAR OF GOD IS POWERLESS AGAINST HUMAN PASSIONS.
[ CLXVII] THE INVENTION OF HELL IS TOO ABSURD TO PREVENT EVIL.
[ CLXVIII] ABSURDITY OF THE MORALITY AND OF THE RELIGIOUS VIRTUES
[ CLXIX] WHAT DOES THAT CHRISTIAN CHARITY AMOUNT TO
[ CLXX] CONFESSION, THAT GOLDEN MINE FOR THE PRIESTS
[ CLXXI] THE SUPPOSITION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A GOD IS NOT NECESSARY
[ CLXXII] RELIGION AND ITS SUPERNATURAL MORALITY ARE FATAL TO THE PEOPLE
[ CLXXIII] HOW THE UNION OF RELIGION AND POLITICS IS FATAL TO THE PEOPLE
[ CLXXIV] CREEDS ARE BURDENSOME AND RUINOUS TO THE MAJORITY OF NATIONS.
[ CLXXV] RELIGION PARALYZES MORALITY.
[ CLXXVI] FATAL CONSEQUENCES OF PIETY.
[ CLXXVII] THE SUPPOSITION OF ANOTHER LIFE IS NEITHER CONSOLING TO MAN . . .
[ CLXXVIII] AN ATHEIST HAS MORE MOTIVES FOR ACTING UPRIGHTLY
[ CLXXIX] AN ATHEISTICAL KING WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO ONE WHO IS RELIGIOUS
[ CLXXX] THE MORALITY ACQUIRED BY PHILOSOPHY IS SUFFICIENT TO VIRTUE.
[ CLXXXI] OPINIONS RARELY INFLUENCE CONDUCT.
[ CLXXXII] -REASON LEADS MEN TO IRRELIGION AND TO ATHEISM
[ CLXXXIII] FEAR ALONE CREATES THEISTS AND BIGOTS.
[ CLXXXIV] CAN WE, OR SHOULD WE, LOVE OR NOT LOVE GOD?
[ CLXXXV] THE VARIOUS AND CONTRADICTORY IDEAS WHICH EXIST EVERYWHERE
[ CLXXXVI] THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF ALL RELIGION
[ CLXXXVII] PRIESTS, MORE THAN UNBELIEVERS, ACT FROM INTEREST.
[ CLXXXVIII] PRIDE, PRESUMPTION, AND CORRUPTION OF THE HEART
[ CLXXXIX] PREJUDICES ARE BUT FOR A TIME, AND NO POWER IS DURABLE
[ CXC] HOW MUCH POWER AND CONSIDERATION THE MINISTERS OF THE GODS . . .
[ CXCI] WHAT A HAPPY AND GREAT REVOLUTION WOULD TAKE PLACE . . .
[ CXCII] THE RETRACTION OF AN UNBELIEVER AT THE HOUR OF DEATH
[ CXCIII] IT IS NOT TRUE THAT ATHEISM SUNDERS ALL THE TIES OF SOCIETY.
[ CXCIV] REFUTATION OF THE ASSERTION THAT RELIGION IS NECESSARY
[ CXCV] EVERY RATIONAL SYSTEM IS NOT MADE FOR THE MULTITUDE.
[ CXCVI] FUTILITY AND DANGER OF THEOLOGY. WISE COUNSELS TO PRINCES.
[ CXCVII] FATAL EFFECTS OF RELIGION UPON THE PEOPLE AND THE PRINCES.
[ CXCVIII] CONTINUATION.
[ CXCIX] HISTORY TEACHES US THAT ALL RELIGIONS WERE ESTABLISHED . . .
[ CC] ALL RELIGIONS, ANCIENT AND MODERN, HAVE MUTUALLY BORROWED . . .
[ CCI] THEOLOGY HAS ALWAYS TURNED PHILOSOPHY FROM ITS TRUE COURSE.
[ CCII] -THEOLOGY NEITHER EXPLAINS NOR ENLIGHTENS ANYTHING IN THE WORLD
[ CCIII] HOW THEOLOGY HAS FETTERED HUMAN MORALS AND RETARDED THE PROGRESS
[ CCIV] CONTINUATION.
[ CCV] WE COULD NOT REPEAT TOO OFTEN HOW EXTRAVAGANT AND FATAL RELIGION
[ CCVI] RELIGION IS PANDORA'S BOX, AND THIS FATAL BOX IS OPEN.
[ ABSTRACT OF THE TESTAMENT OF JOHN MESLIER ]
[ I] OF RELIGIONS.
[ II] OF MIRACLES.
[ III] SIMILARITY BETWEEN ANCIENT AND MODERN MIRACLES.
[ IV] OF THE FALSITY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
[ V] THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. (1) OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
[ VI] THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. (2) THE NEW TESTAMENT.
[ VII] ERRORS OF DOCTRINE AND OF MORALITY.
[ PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. ]
[ PREFATORY NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR ]
[ PREFACE OF THE EDITOR OF THE FRENCH EDITION OF 1830. ]
LIFE OF JEAN MESLIER BY VOLTAIRE.
Jean Meslier, born 1678, in the village of Mazerny, dependency of the duchy of Rethel, was the son of a serge weaver; brought up in the country, he nevertheless pursued his studies and succeeded to the priesthood. At the seminary, where he lived with much regularity, he devoted himself to the system of Descartes.
Becoming curate of Etrepigny in Champagne and vicar of a little annexed parish named Bue, he was remarkable for the austerity of his habits. Devoted in all his duties, every year he gave what remained of his salary to the poor of his parishes; enthusiastic, and of rigid virtue, he was very temperate, as much in regard to his appetite as in relation to women.
MM. Voiri and Delavaux, the one curate of Varq, the other curate of Boulzicourt, were his confessors, and the only ones with whom he associated.
The curate Meslier was a rigid partisan of justice, and sometimes carried his zeal a little too far. The lord of his village, M. de Touilly, having ill-treated some peasants, he refused to pray for him in his service. M. de Mailly, Archbishop of Rheims, before whom the case was brought, condemned him. But the Sunday which followed this decision, the abbot Meslier stood in his pulpit and complained of the sentence of the cardinal. "This is," said he, "the general fate of the poor country priest; the archbishops, who are great lords, scorn them and do not listen to them. Therefore, let us pray for the lord of this place. We will pray for Antoine de Touilly, that he may be converted and granted the grace that he may not wrong the poor and despoil the orphans." His lordship, who was present at this mortifying supplication, brought new complaints before the same archbishop, who ordered the curate Meslier to come to Donchery, where he ill-treated him with abusive language.