12 Comments

Voltaire provides a mountain of evidence in The Sermon of The Fifty and in Letters of Zapata that God was no star pupil in many subjects. In those 2 tracts the notions of Revelation and Omniscience are left with nothing to stand on. God is no master in a slew of subjects, Voltaire relentlessly points out, chapter by chapter; thus what Revelation reveals, among other things, is the deity's deep ignorance.

I was always amused by "religion is the dopiate of the sheeple," and the rest of this mocking collection also pleases.

Compassion is what the world is sorely deficient in. And peace. "The history of the world is the history of fanaticism" Voltaire observed, religious, ideologic. If thoughtfulness could be learned, the social benefits of that learning would be a real boon to the race. Prejudice, bigotry, intimidation, strife and outright cruelty are religions' main contributions to human history.

Expand full comment
author

Mark Twain was another astute critic of the Bible and Christianity. Twain and Voltaire are two of my favorite Bible critics, although there are some good modern ones like Bart Ehrman. I agree that we need more peace, more compassion, and to grow beyond religious fanaticism.

Expand full comment

Bart Ehrman, done on my autumn reading page! Thanks, I love smart folks!

Expand full comment
author

Bart Ehrman is a bible scholar whose studies convinced him the bible is far from "infallible" and he became an atheist.

Expand full comment

Respect is not innate it must be taught and shown and learned, this is when my mind went when I read your words and wisdom. My mind has a mind of its own, totally amazing!

Expand full comment
author

I am always happy to have your approval, and will keep trying to earn it.

Expand full comment

It's truly remarkable to have written 'Bible Libel' at such a tender age and to have realised even then that the Bible is a complete an utter farce - and a very dangerous one.

Expand full comment
author

Yes, a very dangerous book that has caused untold millions of people to be enslaved, tortured and murdered.

Expand full comment

Sacred books shouild only be approached critically. Unfortunately they are accepted on hearsay, on what priests and the like tell people about them. Most people aren't Voltaire, but are content letting others explain everything. Most will never explore the territory on their own, being disinclined, in fact unequipped, to think for themselves. Parrots are legion.

Expand full comment
author

Yes, there are many parrots. But when I was 11, even though every adult I knew insisted the bible was true and its "god" was good, I was able to read and think for myself. It's hard to understand how anyone can read the bible and say its mass-murderer "god" was good.

Expand full comment

Wicked good Sir Michael, I’m doing my happy dance. Happy Sunday, babe G

Expand full comment
author

Happy Sunday!

Expand full comment