Which term describes Voltaire’s ideas about religion? a. agnosticism b. secularism c. Catholicism d. atheism

b. secularism

Voltaire, the French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher, is known for his advocacy of freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and religious tolerance. His ideas about religion would best be described as secularism. Secularism is the principle of separation between the government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries. It is the idea that government and religious institutions should exist independently of each other and that the state should remain neutral in matters of religion.

While Voltaire criticized the Catholic Church and was against dogmatism and religious intolerance, he did not necessarily reject the belief in a higher power altogether—a position that would be closer to agnosticism or atheism. Agnosticism is the belief that the existence of a deity or deities cannot be known or proven, and atheism is the absence of belief in the existence of deities. Voltaire's critique was more about the power of the church and its influence on politics and less about outright rejection of belief in God.

Extra: Voltaire's criticism of religion is often encapsulated in his famous saying, "Écrasez l'infâme," which translates to "crush the infamous thing," referring to abuses of the church and state power. Throughout his work, Voltaire advocated for a society based on reason rather than faith and for the respect of all individuals' right to believe as they wish, as long as their beliefs do not harm others. This idea aligns closely with the modern concept of secular humanism, which emphasizes human reason and ethics without necessarily making claims about the divine. It's important for students to understand that during the time of the Enlightenment, figures like Voltaire played a crucial role in shaping modern thought, especially regarding the role of religion in society and the importance of individual liberties and rational discourse.