By: DAVID RICE
Re: Voltaire, Theism

THEIST


THE theist is a man firmly persuaded of the existence of a Supreme
Being as good as He is powerful, who has formed all beings with
extension, vegetating, sentient and reflecting; who perpetuates
their species, who punishes crimes without cruelty, and rewards
virtuous actions with kindness.

The theist does not know how God punishes, how he protects, how he
pardons, for he is not reckless enough to flatter himself that he
knows how God acts, but he knows that God acts and that He is just.
Difficulties against Providence do not shake him in his faith,
because they are merely great difficulties, and not proofs. He
submits to this Providence, although he perceives but a few effects
and a few signs of this Providence: and, judging of the things he
does not see by the things he sees, he considers that this
Providence reaches all places and all centuries.

Reconciled in this principle with the rest of the universe, he does
not embrace any of the sects, all of which contradict each other;
his religion is the most ancient and the most widespread; for the
simple worship of a God has preceded all the systems of the world.
He speaks a language that all peoples understand, while they do not
understand one another. He has brothers from Pekin to Cayenne, and
he counts all wise men as his brethren. He believes that religion
does not consist either in the opinions of an unintelligible
metaphysic, or in vain display, but in worship and justice. The
doing of good, there is his service; being submissive to God, there
is his doctrine. The Mahometan cries to him--" Have a care if you do
not make the pilgrimage to Mecca !" " Woe unto you," says a
Recollet, " if you do not make a journey to Notre-Dame de Lorette!
"He laughs at Lorette and at Mecca; but he succours the needy and
defends the oppressed.


... Melenkurion abatha! Minas mill khabaal!
* Shy.David@EdenBBS.com
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 * Origin: "She blinded me with science!" (1:124/9005)