La Société Voltaire

After our discussion last week, I was doing some research on how Voltaire is still relevant to us today and came across an article from January in The Guardian entitled “Voltaire’s Treatise on Tolerance becomes bestseller following Paris attacks.” During the week following the Charlie Hebdo attacks, the Treatise on Tolerance by Voltaire became a popular title to read in the religion and philosophy genre. The article stated that after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, people and world leaders protested in solidarity down Boulevard Voltaire. Images of Voltaire with “Je suis Charlie” on it were circulating around the Internet and alike which further more instilled the idea of Voltaire as a symbol for freedom of expression. The Société Voltaire had some strong thoughts on the issue and proclaimed that “‘It was also Voltaire that [the killers] wanted to assassinate’, meaning the Enlightenment legacy of skeptical rationality, laicité (secularism), free-ranging curiosity and battles against censorship that he embodied.”

I was curious about this Société Voltaire, since I had not heard of it, and read some of their articles posted on their website. La Société Voltaire was created on May 30, 2000 on the 222^nd anniversary of the death of Voltaire. Their goal is to encourage and promote the studies, research and events regarding all things Voltaire.  Their website is very interesting since it has activities listed, bulletins and publications to read, as well as debates, surveys and publications.

One bulletin caught my eye in particular from around the time of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. The author of this article wants us to reflect on what Voltaire said in his time on the issue of religion and fanaticism as they are still a problem today. Voltaire states on the death of Marc-Antoine that “In either case the abuse of holy religion has led to a great crime. It is, therefore, of interest to the race to inquire whether religion ought to be charitable or barbaric.” The author says that in Voltaire’s point of view holy religion is characterized by the unity of people with a “sense of mutual goodwill.” This is applicative to today’s society because it is not the differences between the religious and the atheist, between the Christian and non-Christian, etc. that is an issue, but rather the line between barbarism and civilization. The barbarian is stupid and vicious. The civilized is knowledgeable, a critical thinker and exhibits tolerance. In Voltaire’s Treatise on Toleration, the allegation that Marc-Antoine was murdered by his father Jean Calas because he did not want his son to convert to Catholicism is an example of intolerance and barbarism due to differences in religious beliefs. If someone is supposed to be religious why would they commit such a crime? This religious intolerance shows the ignorance that is commonly found among people every day in society. Instead of acting upon our internal hatred for someone’s religion, we could learn from Voltaire and be accepting and just toward others and their differences in religion by fighting against barbarism.

Anger and frustration toward someone or a group of people due to their religious beliefs is not constructive for anyone. It accomplishes nothing and nothing is gained in the process. To exhibit tolerance of someone one must express a fair and objective attitude to people whose beliefs and opinions are different from their own. One must acknowledge the differences that exist and live with it. Being tolerant does not mean you agree with all of the beliefs of another religion it just means that you are respectful of them and allow them to express themselves freely in society.  As Voltaire says, “Not only is it cruel to persecute, in this brief life, those who differ from us, but I am not sure if it is not too bold to declare that they are damned eternally. It seems to me that it is not the place of the atoms of a moment, such as we are, thus to anticipate the decrees of the Creator.” We should not be in judgment of others as God will be the ultimate judge, “transport yourselves with me to the day on which all men will be judged, when God will deal with each according to his works.”