Treatise on Tolerance

By Voltaire

Along with Locke, Rousseau, newton, and many more, Voltaire was one of the thinker
during the enlightenment period or also called the “Age of Reason”. He found inspiration in their
ideals of a free and liberal society, along with freedom of religion and free commerce. Also during
this period their ideas were centered around the goal that reason is the primary source of authority
and legitimacy, Most of them loath superstition, fanaticism, and irrational behaviour of every kind.
Instead they advocated such ideals as liberty, progress, tolerance, constitutional government, and
the separation of church and state. Voltaire is deist, he has the intuition of a higher entity,
inaccessible by reason.

Arouet was known to be satirical polemicist, where he frequently made use of his works to
criticize intolerance, religious dogma, and the French institutions of his day. Voltaire was a critic of
both the bible and established religions believing them to be the source of animosity between
peoples even still he had a lifetime passion for religious liberty and strongly believed that no one
should be penalized by the government for their own disposition, this belief applied to those that
voltaire personally disagreed with on matters of religion

One of his work which is the Treatise on Tolerance calls for religious toleration, and targets
religious fanaticism, especially that of the Jesuits indicting all superstitions surrounding religions.

How Voltaire came to write the treatise is an interesting story. This work of Voltaire draws
inspiration from the trial, death sentence and execution of Jean Calas, a Huguenot father on 1762,
Jean Calas belonged to a protestant family. Following the death by presumed suicide of their
eldest son, the Calas family is falsely accused of culpable homicide. The family is kept in shackles
and the father, by popular demand and by order of 13 judges, is condemned to death despite lack
of evidence. following the execution of Jean Calas, who pleads his innocence to the day of his
death, Voltaire got involved with the case. He presents evidence to the judges that shows that
Marc Antoine killed himself. The judges realize that they were swayed by the opinions of the angry
mob. Voltaire uses the story of Jean Calas to show the dangers of religious intolerance. The case
is retried in Paris on the 9th of March 1765 and the Calas family is rehabilitated.

Whether Tolerance Is Dangerous. the Peoples That Practise It

Key Takeaways

 Voltaire says that some people think tolerance of others' religions could be dangerous. He
argues that it is "an illogical piece of reasoning" to believe that because people rebel when they
are oppressed by intolerance, they will continue to rebel if given the chance to live in a tolerant
society. Voltaire tells leaders of governments that they should "reflect maturely on whether
there is a risk of kindness leading to the same revolts that cruelty gave rise to."

 Voltaire argues that government has become stronger over time, and human morality has
improved since times of war that he characterizes as "anarchic." He says that the fact that
Europe now has "numerous standing armies" prevents the people from backsliding to these
more violent times of the past.

 Voltaire asserts that in the past, the Christian religion was used as a reason for violence on
a large scale. He argues that the rage behind these religious conflicts may still be among
people, but "religious differences cause no trouble today" in countries such as Germany,
England, and Holland. He feels that France should follow these more religiously tolerant
countries' lead and allow people of all religions to "live as brothers ... and contribute alike to the
good of society."

Genarally, we all know that some or most of the Religious practice promotes the well-being
of individuals, families, and the community. ... some of these Religious worship leads to a reduction
in the incidence of domestic abuse, crime, substance abuse, and addiction. In
addition, religious practice can increase physical and mental health, longevity, and education
attainment. There are many importance of religious tolerance because religious
tolerance maintains peace, co-operation and unity among people. Secularism helps in the
promotion of religious tolerance as it maintains religious equality and freedom.

Voltaire, as a deist, he asserts that tolerance is not dangerous, as long as people cooperate
and promote peace in every aspect of life. Therefore, one should say that even now that there are
differences in cultures, beliefs, and religions, people know how to empathize and respect one
another, unlike before in voltaires time, many accounts prove that there is a vast intolerance in
society. And people in those days especially the roman catholics do not want accept the fact that
there are other beliefs religion aside from catholicism.

Whether Intolerance a Matter of Natural Law, and of Human Law

Key Takeaways
 Voltaire explores the concept of natural law which is a central tenet of the philosophers of
his day. Natural law according to Voltaire describes "the law indicated to all men by nature."
Examples of natural law include a father's right to raise his child and the child's obligation to
respect his father. Another instance of natural law Voltaire notes is that promises people made
should be kept.

 Natural law is a human universal, and Voltaire argues that all human law must be shaped
around natural law. He says that tolerance is aligned with the natural law, and intolerance is
"absurd and barbaric."

 Voltaire asserts that everyone would hate each other and the world would be full of violence
and anarchy if intolerance was in agreement with natural law. He says that the "law of
intolerance" is the same as the "law of tigers" but worse because tigers fight over food while
people "wipe each other out over paragraphs."

As we all know Today, there are established human laws for intolerance, like now there are
laws that protects us from any discrimination, the freedom of expression, which we are entitled to
express our beliefs, thoughts, ideas, and emotions about different issues free from government
and religion censorship. This only proves that every society and human progress, people are
learning from past mistakes and continuously develop the wisdom and sense to make good
decisions and choices so that we do not run the risk of repeating them again. It is also worth noting
that the ideas of philosophers has helped us to make and develop laws that are beneficial for
everyone.

The Danger of False Legends. Persecution

Key Takeaways

 Voltaire continues to argue that Christians should not believe a false history about their
persecution in Roman times. He declares that "it is time to pick out the few truths we can trace
amid the clouds of legends" about the violent acts Romans supposedly committed against
Christians out of religious intolerance. One of the example nga is the Jean Calas case which
the intolerance or impulsive decisions of the roman catholics on that time causes his death.

 Voltaire declares, "with a shudder" that he and his fellow Christians are in fact "the
persecutors, the executioners, the assassins" because of religious intolerance. He says that
Christians engage in violence against "our brothers" using their religion as an excuse or
justification.
 Voltaire argues that France is behind most countries in Europe in terms of their
understanding of the importance of religious tolerance. He implores the French people that
they should not "always be the last to embrace the wholesome opinions of other nations" as he
argues they have in the past.

 Voltaire says that some people will reason poorly and claim that because people have done
criminal behavior in God's name, God does not exist. He says that people should "draw the
opposite conclusion." To Voltaire when people engage in violence over "irreconcilable hatreds,"
they show that they do not understand or honor God. Instead, people create "hell in this world"
over religious differences that have little to do with reality or reason according to Voltaire.

To avoid the danger of false legends, Voltaire believed above all in the efficacy of reason.
He believed social progress could be achieved through reason and that no authority—religious or
political or otherwise—should be immune to challenge by reason.

Voltaire's beliefs on freedom and reason is what ultimately led to the French Revolution, the
United States Bill of Rights, and the decrease in the power of the Catholic Church, which have
all affected modern western society. ...Religious liberty, freedom of the press, and the abolition of
feudal privileges were all cornerstones of Voltaire's political thought.

Reason is the faculty that identifies and integrates the information provided by our senses
to give us knowledge of reality. It is the means to accurately perceive and therefore operate within
the world around us. Reason is man’s best friend, you would have a hard time arguing the contrary.
Most people who consistently attempt to disregard reason in their lives are institutionalised.
Thinking rationally and effectively is the process of using reason – logic is the method. So, many
experiences and accounts proves that without reason means that there would be a disconnection
from reality and therefore human suffering.
The main challenge for us today is to distinguish between what is knowledge and what is not, what
is real and what is not.

Moreover, Thinking through our beliefs and questioning assumptions is the shield that
protects us from unwittingly downloading false premises and thus making important life decisions
based upon incorrect information.
Whether It Is Useful to Maintain People in Superstition

Key Takeaways

 Voltaire says that humanity is characterized by "weakness" and "perversity," and some kind
of religion or superstition is necessary to hold people back from their worst instincts.

 Voltaire argues that as long as religions or superstitions do not promote violence, they can
be useful for humanity. If there is an absence of "sound notions" of God, Voltaire warns that
"false ideas" will become entrenched among people.

 Voltaire compares religion and laws. He states that religion is necessary because it
"watches secret crimes," but laws deal with openly committed wrongdoing.

 Voltaire argues that religion is far preferable to superstition. He describes religion as the
"very wise mother" to the "very foolish daughter" of superstition. Superstition remains even
after religion develops. Voltaire states that the most dangerous superstition is the hatred of
"one's neighbor on account of his opinions." We all know that voltaire loathe intolerance, and
he fights until his death that people should respect one another.

Virtue Is Better Than Knowledge

Key Takeaways

 Voltaire sums up his sense of religious intolerance with a pithy introduction. He announces,
"Fewer dogmas, fewer disputes; and fewer disputes, fewer miseries." He returns to the theme
of the dangers inherent in religious extremism and intolerance.

 Voltaire argues that religion exists to support humanity's happiness "in this world and the
next." He asserts that it would be ridiculous to believe that all people could be persuaded to
believe the same thing.

 Therefore, He notes that history is full of examples of violence over things like a "disputed
verse of Scripture." He believes that people demonstrate foolishness when they argue over
unknowable aspects of God or religious belief. In addition to this, we can chose whatever we
want to believe, as long as it do not harm others. That is why today, in many situations we are
given the right to equality and equity.

Universal tolerance
Key Takeaways

 Voltaire claims that it is easy to prove that "Christians ought to tolerate each other" and to
reason that people should "regard all men as brothers." He offers arguments that some people
make against acting on this creed.

 Voltaire says that some Christians might object that some people hate them and consider
their religion incorrect. These people might feel the need to "at least shake the stubborn pride"
of someone who believes that their religion is the only correct one.

 Voltaire emphasizes that many people believe in their religion and believe other religions
are inaccurate. Rather than get involved in "unintelligible disputes" over religious beliefs,
people should tolerate others' religions according to Voltaire

The main idea of tolerance, is that everybody should be allowed to exist as they are, to be
free in their thought and their culture. Tolerance is also the foundation of multiculturalism, a form of
life that is necessary and unavoidable nowadays, even though many people still fight it. Tolerance,
as a form of freedom and interpersonal ground rule, is even part of the foundation of society, the
constitution, at least in my country. Freedom of speech implies tolerance for all opinions. Freedom
of religion implies tolerance for all religions. Artistic freedom, freedom of meeting, freedom of
opinion. Also respect towards and fair treatment of any other inhabitant of the country are
constitutionally secured. But why?

Tolerance, as it has been taught to us by our parents and or by our teachers, means that
we should have respect towards other peoples cultures, even if they involve values and traditions
that we don’t agree with and that maybe even go strictly against our own code of morals. In return
we expect the same from them and everyone lives in peace. This is a value that has emerged as a
solution to thousands of years of religious wars and feuds and the billions of death that have
resulted from it. It makes a lot of sense, too – if everyone practices tolerance in addition to their
own culture and traditions, there should be no more conflict between any sort of religion or
ideological group. While that theory doesn’t work for religions whose religious values go directly
against tolerance, as for example in the Christian literal tradition,the missionary duty of every
Christian is explicitly stated, those religions can easily be adapted and persuaded to follow those
ideals. While some of the more violent cultural traditions of clan-culture can’t actually be taken out
of their culture, they can mostly be convinced to at least not apply those traditions to uninvolved
people or people of different faiths. If that state of cultural diversity and simultaneous tolerance
could be reached, then the ideal of tolerance would be fulfilled. That would be the ultimate result
and a peaceful solution indeed. Universal toleration by all involved parties would allow cultures to
exist in their traditions and with each other in peace.
A prayer to God

Key Takeaways

 Voltaire turns away from addressing his fellow humans and speaks directly to the "God of
all beings, of all worlds, and of all ages." This chapter takes the form of a prayer made to God.

 Voltaire prays that "the trifling differences" among people should not become "triggers for
hatred and persecution." He refers to differences between people's clothing and material
conditions as well as more philosophical differences that Voltaire feels would seem small and
insignificant to God. Voltaire asks God to help people to not hate each other because of their
"insignificant thoughts," "ridiculous customs," "imperfect laws," and "absurd opinions."

 Voltaire implores God that people should show love to each other regardless of their
garments, possessions, or languages. He cries out to God in hopes that "all men remember
they are brothers!"

Voltaire uses Calas's story as one symbol of how religious intolerance harms France and
society in general. Voltaire refers to the fact that conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in
France have led to decades of religious wars. Voltaire compares the religious intolerance of
Protestants in France to religious intolerance in other eras and places. He reviews ancient Greek,
Roman, and Jewish history and finds that on the whole people have been religiously tolerant.
Voltaire argues that people of his time should use their reason to understand that all religious
beliefs should be tolerated in society as long as they do not harm others.