Voltaire, the catholic

[panurge]

« Je, soussigné, déclare qu’étant attaqué depuis quatre jours d’un vomissement de sang, à l’âge de quatre-vingt-quatre ans, et n’ayant pu me traîner à l’église, et M. le curé de Saint-Sulpice ayant bien voulu ajouter à ses bonnes oeuvres celle de m’envoyer M. l’abbé Gauthier, prêtre, je me suis confessé à lui, et que si Dieu dispose de moi, je meurs dans la sainte religion catholique où je suis né, espérant de la miséricorde divine qu’elle daignera pardonner toutes mes fautes; et que si j’avais jamais scandalisé l’Église, j’en demande pardon à Dieu et à elle. « A signé: Voltaire, le 2 mars 1778, dans la maison de M. le marquis de Villette.

For the atheist Voltaire lovers out there. You should know he regretted in time.

[attilavolciak07]

Voltaire was never an Athiest, period.

He critisized the actions of organized religion itself.

Voltaire was largely of the opinion that the Bible was 1) an outdated legal and/or moral reference, 2) by and large a metaphor, but one that still taught some good lessons, and 3) a work of Man, not a divine gift. These beliefs did not hinder his religious practice, however, though it did gain him somewhat of a bad reputation in the Catholic Church. It may be noted that Voltaire was indeed seen as somewhat of a nuisance to many believers, and was almost universally known

[panurge]

He was a critic of the Church and he regretted it. He regretted having scandalized the Bible and asked forgivance. He also wrote to the pope in deep reverence.

Btw, I never said he was an atheist. It's just that atheist, anti-catholic peope love to quote him. And it just sound foolish.

[attilavolciak07]

He was a critic of the Church and he regretted it. He regretted having scandalized the Bible and asked forgivance. He also wrote to the pope in deep reverence.

He regretted it because they would most likely kill him for being a heretic. Not because he mistoke his views on God.
He not only critisized Christianity, but also Islam. He preferred Hindu and Islam to Christianity though.

And they quote him because he did come up with great problems with the Catholic Church, and was very intelligent.

[panurge]

He regretted it because they would most likely kill him for being a heretic. Not because he mistoke his views on God.
He not only critisized Christianity, but also Islam. He preferred Hindu and Islam to Christianity though.

And they quote him because he did come up with great problems with the Catholic Church, and was very intelligent.

They would not kill him, he was already dying. The only thing that could be done was to deny him a funeral. And I think that did happen, but the prohibition arrived late and he was already buried. He was desperate to confess before dying and the priest asked him to write publicly that he regretted his critics. It's sincere. He did not fear getting killed as an heretic. He feared what was waiting for him in hell.

[Dracula]

They would not kill him, he was already dying. The only thing that could be done was to deny him a funeral. And I think that did happen, but the prohibition arrived late and he was already buried. He was desperate to confess before dying and the priest asked him to write publicly that he regretted his critics. It's sincere. He did not fear getting killed as an heretic. He feared what was waiting for him in hell.

So did Voltairre repent for his critics and rejoin the Catholic Church at his death bed ?

[Da Skinna]

Hell of a philosopher though. My favourite.

[Odovacar]

Voltaire's jokes are good at first hearing, second time they get boring.
He had a shallow philosophy.

[panurge]

So did Voltairre repent for his critics and rejoin the Catholic Church at his death bed ?

Yes

Voltaire's jokes are good at first hearing, second time they get boring.
He had a shallow philosophy.

Agreed

Panurge - if this is some anti-atheist argument it's a weak one.


By that logic, every Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jew etc etc etc who rejects religion and becomes agnostic/atheist can now be used as an argument against religion

Conversions don't mean a thing.

It's in no way an argument, of course. It's plain information.

Voltaire I. never repented, II. was one of the fiercest critics of the Church in his lifetime and III. he wasn't an atheist.

He did repent. Do you want me to translate to you? "I die in the saint catholic religion, in which I was born, expecting that divine mercy will forgive all my faults, and if I ever scandalized the Church, I ask forgivance for Her and for God." (Not a perfect translation, though).

[Rich86]

It's in no way an argument, of course. It's plain information.

Yes but you have posted this 'plain information' with an intent have you not? What is that intent? What is the point you are trying to make? People do not post random things like "By the way there are 365 days in a year - just thought I'd let you all know ." So what is the point you are trying to make? Seems pretty clear you are trying to make some sort of point against atheism by providing one example.

[panurge]

No; and source? Be aware that Voltaire was alone in his deathbed and the only proof he repented is from a dubious source that was contested by the Church itself during at the time.

It was published in a French periodic of the time, edited by Grimm IIRC, some 4 or 5 months before his death.CORRESPONDANCE LITTÉRAIRE, PHILOSOPHIQUE ET CRITIQUE, Avril 1778.

If it was not true, he would have contested it, as he was still alive when it was published. It was published by a friend of him, so on what basis do you doubt it?

[Dracula]

I have also heard he had rejoined the catholic Church.

@Rich86 - people post because they want the truth ,not propaganda.

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

Show it, then.

According to a June 1778 edition of this same periodical paper Voltaire's body was refused by the Abady of Scellieres (Source).

Take attention to this special note!

Note_32 On sait que M. de Voltaire a regretté infiniment la vie (eh! qui pouvait la regretter plus que lui?) mais sans craindre la mort et ses suites. Il a maudit souvent l’impuissance des secours de la médecine; mais ce sont les douleurs dont il était tourmenté, le désir qu’il aurait eu de jouir encore plus longtemps de sa gloire et de ses travaux, non les remords d’une âme effrayée par l’incertitude de l’avenir, qui lui arrachèrent ses plaintes et ses murmures. Il a vu quelques heures avant de mourir M. le curé de Saint-Sulpice et M. l’abbé Gauthier. Il a paru d’abord avoir quelque peine à les reconnaître. M. de Villette les lui ayant annoncés une seconde fois, il répondit sans aucune impatience: Assurez ces messieurs de mes respects. A la prière de M. de Villette, M. de Saint-Sulpice s’étant approché du chevet de son lit, le mourant étendit son bras autour de sa tête comme pour l’embrasser. Dans cette attitude, M. de Saint-Sulpice lui adressa quelques exhortations, et finit par le conjurer de rendre encore témoignage à la vérité dans ses derniers instants, et de prouver au moins par quelque signe qu’il reconnaissait la divinité de Jésus-Christ. A ce mot les yeux du mourant parurent se ranimer un peu; il repoussa doucement M. le curé, et dit d’une voix encore intelligible Hélas! laissez-moi mourir tranquille! M. de Saint-Sulpice se tourna du côté de M. l’abbé Gauthier, et lui dit avec beaucoup de modération et de présence d’esprit: Vous voyez que la tête n’y est plus. Ces messieurs s’étant retirés, il serra la main du domestique qui l’avait servi avec le plus de zèle pendant sa maladie, nomma encore quelquefois Mme Denis, et rendit peu de moments après les derniers soupirs. (Meister.)

The evidence that Voltaire died as a Catholic is dubious at best and even more vulnerable to scrutiny when we analyze that men of the age were desperately trying to earn a confession or any admission that he came back to Christian faith, thus increasing the chance of fraud; the fact that they did it while he was dying, and ill, not only makes my respect for the Catholic Church lower but also accounts for the probability that anything Voltaire said in this sense wasn't sincere or true at all.

[Da Skinna]

Certainly no Liebniz, his philosophy usually was curtailed by his wit.

"Doubt is not an agreeable condition, but certainty is an absurd one."

[Rich86]

Panurge - if this is some anti-atheist argument it's a weak one.


By that logic, every Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jew etc etc etc who rejects religion and becomes agnostic/atheist can now be used as an argument against religion

Conversions don't mean a thing.

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

Voltaire I. never repented, II. was one of the fiercest critics of the Church in his lifetime and III. he wasn't an atheist.

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

He did repent. Do you want me to translate to you? "I die in the saint catholic religion, in which I was born, expecting that divine mercy will forgive all my faults, and if I ever scandalized the Church, I ask forgivance for Her and for God." (Not a perfect translation, though).

No; and source? Be aware that Voltaire was alone in his deathbed and the only proof he repented is from a dubious source that was contested by the Church itself during at the time.

[panurge]

Yes but you have posted this 'plain information' with an intent have you not? What is that intent? What is the point you are trying to make? People do not post random things like "By the way there are 365 days in a year - just thought I'd let you all know :original:." So what is the point you are trying to make? Seems pretty clear you are trying to make some sort of point against atheism by providing one example.

Does it really seem that clear? Then you should try explaining my point, since I don't know it. I say it's plain information. As you can read above: "It's just that atheist, anti-catholic peope love to quote him. And it just sound foolish." So I'm not trying to argue, I'm posting this only so that when people quote Voltaire, they know he wished to die like a catholic. Anything else is inside your head.

[Da Skinna]

Richard Dawkins refuted the repentent claim as well I think.

[Dracula]

Who the hell refutes what if we have a published letter in a magazine ?!