A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 09 — Voltaire — John Shaqi
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 09
Voltaire · en
"Might not I, while doing good, be excused from making a pilgrimage to
St. James of Compostello?"
"I never was in that country."
"Should I confine myself in a place of retirement With blockheads?"
"For my part, I always made little journeys from town to town."
"Must I take part with the Greek or with the Latin Church?"
"When I was in the world, I never made any difference between the Jew
and the Samaritan."
"Well, if it be so, I take you for my only master."
Then he gave me a nod, which filled me with consolation. The vision
disappeared, and I was left with a good conscience.
SECTION III.
_Questions on Religion._
FIRST QUESTION.
Warburton, bishop of Gloucester, author of one of the most learned works
ever written, thus expresses himself ("Divine Legation of Moses," i.,
8): "A religion, a society, which is not founded on the belief of a
future state, must be supported by an extraordinary Providence. Judaism
is not founded on the belief of a future state; therefore, Judaism was
supported by an extraordinary Providence."
Many theologians rose up against him; and, as all arguments are
retorted, so was his retorted upon himself; he was told:
"Every religion which is not founded on the dogma of the immortality of
the soul, and on everlasting rewards and punishments, is necessarily
false. Now these dogmas were unknown to the Jews; therefore Judaism, far
from being supported by Providence, was, on your own principles, a false
and barbarous religion by which Providence was attacked."
This bishop had some other adversaries, who maintained against him that
the immortality of the soul was known to the Jews even in the time of
Moses; but he proved to them very clearly that neither the Decalogue,
nor Leviticus, nor Deuteronomy, had said one word of such a belief; and
that it is ridiculous to strive to distort and corrupt some passages of
other books, in order to draw from them a truth which is not announced
in the book of the law.
The bishop, having written four volumes to demonstrate that the Jewish
law proposed neither pains nor rewards after death, has never been able
to answer his adversaries in a very satisfactory manner. They said to
him: "Either Moses knew this dogma, and so deceived the Jews by not
communicating it, or he did not know it, in which case he did not know
enough to found a good religion. Indeed, if the religion had been good
why should it have been abolished? A true religion must be for all times
and all places; it must be as the light of the sun, enlightening all
nations and generations."
This prelate, enlightened as he is, has found it no easy task to
extricate himself from so many difficulties. But what system is free
from them?
SECOND QUESTION.