By Jean Meslier
LIFE OF JEAN MESLIER BY VOLTAIRE.
PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR.
COMMON SENSE.
I. APOLOGUE.
II. WHAT IS THEOLOGY?
III.
IV. MAN BORN NEITHER RELIGIOUS NOR DEISTICAL.
V. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BELIEVE IN A GOD, AND THE MOST REASONABLE THING IS NOT TO THINK OF HIM.
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 OF THE WEAKNESS OF MEN.
XII. RELIGION ENTICES IGNORANCE BY THE AID OF THE MARVELOUS.
XIII. CONTINUATION.
XIV. THERE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ANY RELIGION IF THERE HAD NEVER BEEN ANY DARK AND BARBAROUS AGES.
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 AT ALL.
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
XXX. IT IS NEITHER LESS NOR MORE CRIMINAL TO BELIEVE IN GOD THAN NOT TO BELIEVE IN HIM.
XXXI. THE BELIEF IN GOD IS NOTHING BUT A MECHANICAL HABITUDE OF CHILDHOOD.
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
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, AND
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, AND TO ADORE A DIVINE INTELLIGENCE IS A CHIMERA.
XLVII. ALL THE QUALITIES WHICH THEOLOGY GIVES TO ITS GOD ARE
XLVIII. CONTINUATION.
XLIX. IT IS ABSURD TO SAY THAT THE HUMAN RACE IS THE OBJECT AND THE END OF CREATION.
L. GOD IS NOT MADE FOR MAN, NOR MAN FOR GOD.
LI. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE OBJECT OF THE FORMATION OF THE UNIVERSE WAS TO RENDER MEN HAPPY.
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. WHAT IS A GOD WHO CAN CHANGE NOTHING?
LVII. THE VANITY OF THEOLOGICAL CONSOLATIONS IN THE TROUBLES
LVIII. ANOTHER IDLE FANCY.
LIX. IN VAIN DOES THEOLOGY EXERT ITSELF TO ACQUIT GOD OF MAN'S
LX. WE CAN NOT BELIEVE IN A DIVINE PROVIDENCE, IN AN INFINITELY GOOD AND POWERFUL GOD.
LXI. CONTINUATION.
LXII. THEOLOGY MAKES OF ITS GOD A MONSTER OF NONSENSE, OF
LXIII. ALL RELIGION INSPIRES BUT A COWARDLY AND INORDINATE FEAR OF THE DIVINITY.
LXIV. THERE IS IN REALITY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND THE MOST SOMBRE AND SERVILE SUPERSTITION.
LXV. ACCORDING TO THE IDEAS WHICH THEOLOGY GIVES OF DIVINITY, TO LOVE GOD IS IMPOSSIBLE.
LXVI. BY THE INVENTION OF THE DOGMA OF THE ETERNAL TORMENTS OF
LXVII. THEOLOGY IS BUT A SERIES OF PALPABLE CONTRADICTIONS.
LXVIII. THE PRETENDED WORKS OF GOD DO NOT PROVE AT ALL WHAT WE CALL DIVINE PERFECTION.
LXIX. THE PERFECTION OF GOD DOES NOT SHOW TO ANY MORE
LXX. THEOLOGY PREACHES THE OMNIPOTENCE OF ITS GOD, AND CONTINUALLY SHOWS HIM IMPOTENT.
LXXI. ACCORDING TO ALL THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS OF THE EARTH, GOD
LXXII. IT IS ABSURD TO SAY THAT EVIL DOES NOT COME FROM GOD.
LXXIII. THE FORESIGHT ATTRIBUTED TO GOD, WOULD GIVE TO GUILTY
LXXIV. ABSURDITY OF THE THEOLOGICAL FABLES UPON ORIGINAL SIN AND UPON SATAN.
LXXV. THE DEVIL, LIKE RELIGION, WAS INVENTED TO ENRICH THE PRIESTS.
LXXVI. IF GOD COULD NOT RENDER HUMAN NATURE SINLESS, HE HAS NO RIGHT TO PUNISH MAN.
LXXVII. IT IS ABSURD TO SAY THAT GOD'S CONDUCT MUST BE A
LXXVIII. IT IS ABSURD TO CALL HIM A GOD OF JUSTICE AND
LXXIX. A GOD WHO PUNISHES THE FAULTS WHICH HE COULD HAVE
LXXX. FREE WILL IS AN IDLE FANCY.
LXXXI. WE SHOULD NOT CONCLUDE FROM THIS THAT SOCIETY HAS NOT THE RIGHT TO CHASTISE THE WICKED.
LXXXII. REFUTATION OF THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF FREE WILL.
LXXXIII. CONTINUATION.
LXXXIV. GOD HIMSELF, IF THERE WAS A GOD, WOULD NOT BE FREE; HENCE THE USELESSNESS OF ALL RELIGION.
LXXXV. EVEN ACCORDING TO THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES, MAN IS NOT FREE ONE INSTANT.
LXXXVI. ALL EVIL, ALL DISORDER, ALL SIN, CAN BE ATTRIBUTED BUT
LXXXVII. MEN'S PRAYERS TO GOD PROVE SUFFICIENTLY THAT THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DIVINE ECONOMY.
LXXXVIII. THE REPARATION OF THE INIQUITIES AND THE MISERIES OF
LXXXIX. THEOLOGY JUSTIFIES THE EVIL AND INJUSTICE PERMITTED BY
XC. REDEMPTION, AND THE CONTINUAL EXTERMINATIONS ATTRIBUTED TO
XCI. HOW CAN WE DISCOVER A TENDER, GENEROUS, AND EQUITABLE
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 PROVIDENCE.
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
C. WHAT IS THE SOUL? WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. IF THIS
CI. THE EXISTENCE OF A SOUL IS AN ABSURD SUPPOSITION, AND THE
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, WHICH THEOLOGIANS CONSTANTLY CALL TO THEIR AID.
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
CVIII. IT IS FALSE THAT THE DOGMA OF ANOTHER LIFE CAN BE
CIX. ALL RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES ARE IMAGINARY. INNATE SENSE IS
CX. EVERY RELIGION IS BUT A SYSTEM IMAGINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CXI. ABSURDITY AND INUTILITY OF THE MYSTERIES FORGED IN THE SOLE INTEREST OF THE PRIESTS.
CXII. CONTINUATION.
CXIII. CONTINUATION.
CXIV. A UNIVERSAL GOD SHOULD HAVE REVEALED A UNIVERSAL RELIGION.
CXV. THE PROOF THAT RELIGION IS NOT NECESSARY, IS THAT IT IS UNINTELLIGIBLE.
CXVI. ALL RELIGIONS ARE RIDICULED BY THOSE OF OPPOSITE THOUGH EQUALLY INSANE BELIEF.
CXVII. OPINION OF A CELEBRATED THEOLOGIAN.
CXVIII. THE DEIST'S GOD IS NO LESS CONTRADICTORY, NO LESS FANCIFUL, THAN THE THEOLOGIAN'S GOD.
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, THE GREATER THE REASON FOR SUSPECTING IT.
CXXIII. SKEPTICISM IN THE MATTER OF RELIGION, CAN BE THE
CXXIV. REVELATION REFUTED.
CXXV. WHERE, THEN, IS THE PROOF THAT GOD DID EVER SHOW HIMSELF TO MEN OR SPEAK TO THEM?
CXXVI. NOTHING ESTABLISHES THE TRUTH OF MIRACLES.
CXXVII. IF GOD HAD SPOKEN, IT WOULD BE STRANGE THAT HE HAD
CXXVIII. OBSCURE AND SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN OF ORACLES.
CXXIX. ABSURDITY OF PRETENDED MIRACLES.
CXXX. REFUTATION OF PASCAL'S MANNER OF REASONING AS TO HOW WE SHOULD JUDGE MIRACLES.
CXXXI. EVEN ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THEOLOGY ITSELF,
CXXXII. EVEN THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS, TESTIFIES AGAINST THE
CXXXIII. THE FANATICISM OF THE MARTYRS, THE INTERESTED ZEAL OF
CXXXIV. THEOLOGY MAKES OF ITS GOD AN ENEMY OF COMMON SENSE AND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.
CXXXV. FAITH IS IRRECONCILABLE WITH REASON, AND REASON IS PREFERABLE TO FAITH.
CXXXVI. HOW ABSURD AND RIDICULOUS IS THE SOPHISTRY OF THOSE WHO WISH TO SUBSTITUTE FAITH FOR REASON.
CXXXVII. HOW PRETEND THAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE VERBAL
CXXXVIII. FAITH TAKES ROOT BUT IN WEAK, IGNORANT, OR INDOLENT MINDS.
CXXXIX. TO TEACH THAT THERE EXISTS ONE TRUE RELIGION IS AN
CXL. RELIGION IS NOT NECESSARY TO MORALITY AND TO VIRTUE.
CXLI. RELIGION IS THE WEAKEST RESTRAINT THAT CAN BE OPPOSED TO THE PASSIONS.
CXLII. HONOR IS A MORE SALUTARY AND A STRONGER CHECK THAN RELIGION.
CXLIII. RELIGION IS CERTAINLY NOT A POWERFUL CHECK UPON THE
CXLIV. ORIGIN OF THE MOST ABSURD, THE MOST RIDICULOUS, AND THE
CXLV. RELIGION IS FATAL TO POLITICS; IT FORMS BUT LICENTIOUS
CXLVI. CHRISTIANITY EXTENDED ITSELF BUT BY ENCOURAGING
CXLVII. THE ONLY AIM OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES IS TO PERPETUATE
CXLVIII. HOW FATAL IT IS TO PERSUADE KINGS THAT THEY HAVE ONLY GOD TO FEAR IF THEY INJURE THE PEOPLE.
CLXIX. A RELIGIOUS KING IS A SCOURGE TO HIS KINGDOM.
CL. THE SHIELD OF RELIGION IS FOR TYRANNY, A WEAK RAMPART
SUPERSTITION IN ALL AGES Clyx.com
