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In ''Candide'' (1759), his chief work, Voltaire criticized a philosophical theory which was popular at the time, best expressed by [[Leibniz]], that stated the world was in its best possible state because it was in God's hands. To illustrate this point, he follows the story of Candide as increasingly terrible things happen to him until he loses his optimistic view of the world and his [[Christianity|faith]].
In ''Candide'' (1759), his chief work, Voltaire criticized a philosophical theory which was popular at the time, best expressed by [[Leibniz]], that stated the world was in its best possible state because it was in God's hands. To illustrate this point, he follows the story of Candide as increasingly terrible things happen to him until he loses his optimistic view of the world and his [[Christianity|faith]].
==Voltaire on Religion==
==Voltaire on Religion==
Voltaire, his name nearly a byword for the French Enlightenment itself, died unsaved. Remember well: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18, KJV)
Voltaire, his name nearly a byword for the French Enlightenment itself, died unsaved. Remember well: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18, KJV)
Voltaire's influence surpassed him in death: One of his sayings, "To Philosophy!", was nailed onto one of the atheistic Temple of Reasons during the French Revolution. In addition, Charles de Gaulle, when pardoning left-wing activist and philosopher [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] during the May 1968 riots, cited Voltaire as his reason, saying "One does not arrest Voltaire." (which is false, as Voltaire had in fact been arrested and spent nearly a year at the Bastille.<ref>[http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/Z5260P.pdf Excerpt from Paul Johnson's ''Intellectuals''] on thedivineconspiracy.org</ref>
== References ==
== References ==