What does this quote from Voltaire mean to you: "If God did not exist, it w

Question: What does this quote from Voltaire mean to you: "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him"
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Voltaire, though often thought an atheist, did in fact partake in religious activities and even erected a chapel on his estate at Ferney!. The chief source for the misconception is a line from one of his poems (called "Epistle to the author of the book, The Three Impostors") that translates to: "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him!." The full body of the work, however, reveals his criticism was more focused towards the actions of organized religion, rather than with the concept of religion itself!.

Like many other key figures during the European Enlightenment, Voltaire considered himself a Deist!. He did not believe that absolute faith, based upon any particular or singular religious text or tradition of revelation, was needed to believe in God!. In fact, Voltaire's focus instead on the idea of a universe based on reason and a respect for nature reflected the contemporary Pantheism, increasingly popular throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and which continues in a form of deism today known as "Voltairean Pantheism!."

He wrote, "What is faith!? Is it to believe that which is evident!? No!. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being!. This is no matter of faith, but of reason!."

In terms of religious texts, Voltaire was largely of the opinion that the Bible was 1) an outdated legal and/or moral reference, 2) by and large a metaphor, but one that still taught some good lessons, and 3) a work of Man, not a divine gift!.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; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote to his father the year of Voltaire's death, saying, "The arch-scoundrel Voltaire has finally kicked the bucket!.!.!.!."

Voltaire was also critical of Muhammad!. His play Fanaticism, or Mahomet was “written in opposition to the founder of a false and barbarous sect”; he also referred to Muhammad as “a false prophet!.” However, his views on Islam were more favourable!. He called him the founder of "a wise, severe, chaste, and humane religion", and also said "The legislator of the Muslims, a terrible and powerful man, established his dogmas with his valor and arms; yet, his religion became benign and tolerant!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

well id say that quote holds much more weight in the past!. when the majority of the world was truely ignorant and people didnt know why everything around them was that way!. when you cant expline things via science and what not, god is an easy scapegoat!. the same works for keeping those people in line saying you'll go to hell if you dont act right!. i think now we know better and thats why Nietzsche said god is dead!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

What else could it be but another being with our type of personality but only a whole lot smarter than any of us!. Something intelligent out there knew how to love because the manifestations thereafter have been life for us!. Sooner or later someone would come to the same conclusions as Voltaire!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

As an atheist I question the "if" in his statement, but at the same time I've come to know enough about human psychology to know that many (not all, but most) humans have a need to believe in something!. The supernatural was an invention of humans to explain the unexplainable in ancient times before we had the tools of science and rational thought to explain the world in a logical and verifiable manner!. Now that we do, the supernatural is something of an evolutionary carryover, like our appendix or male nipples, something we don't need but haven't advanced enough to get rid of yet!.

Another function religion serves is as a comfort against dying by telling people that they will live on in some eternal afterlife!. We are evolutionarily designed to really fear death, so a belief system that tells us that death isn't really the end has an extremely strong emotional appeal!.

Religion is also an efficient means of community networking!. For some people, especially those in rural or remote areas, church can be the social highlight of their week!. Of course in ancient times, the good majority of people were in rural or remote areas, so having a reason to all come together periodically would also have been very appealing!.

Belief, at its core, is a desire for something to be true, either regardless of a lack of evidence supporting it or actually in spite of evidence against it!. But the important part is that belief is a desire--an emotion!. Humans are never rational all the time, and for most humans rational thought is the exception rather than the rule!. As such, there is more than enough space within the human mind for all manner of beliefs, and because beliefs bring us some satisfaction from holding them, that makes them all the more appealing to us, and all the harder to argue against!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i think god is important to keep things in order!.!.!.!. ppl act better because they have the fear of god in them!. which, i dont even believe in god, is good!. it has kept order in a lot of ppl!. they are scared of going to hell, which is a terrible image that has been beaten into our heads!. i think that quote is touching on that!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think it means that we all need someone!. Someone who will
listen to us, give us a reason to why something has happened, give us someone to blame, someone to trust, and so on!. It means we are dependent on eachother, and many times we feel like we stand alone and that there is no one else!. And because of that, someone might believe there is someone out there in order to feel a little safer and rest a little more peacefully!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

1!.) For some, God is who we go to when things go wrong, and truthfully the person we sometimes blame when they do go that way!. When things go right, we believe it is because of him!. Actions many have understood are caused by him, and we pray to him to give us the best!. Without him, life would be in disorder!.
2!.) For others, God is a higher being that humans have created to explain all that is left unexplained in the world!. :)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Every human needs some sort of faith, some sort of belief, as that belief is what allows them to feel that they have something to strive for, some clinging hope to let them reach their true potential!.

Without a God, there would be no faith!.
A life without faith is meaningless!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

life then death ,then your as valuable as dirt your bury in , maybe its necessary when your dead that your material is more than just that material makes up your body!.It has a soul that was operating it and not just a mechanical reason !.!?!?!?!?!?!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

i think it means that people need to have a God to justify their actions!. they say that it was done in the name of God, and all that!. also, people need hope!. They would rather be blissfully ignorant than know the truth!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

that god is a crutch for weak human minds to comfort them in there fears of life after death!. basically!. not trying to be mean that is what it means!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It is supported by a statement (B!. Russel !?) :"Without God lives become meaningless"Www@QuestionHome@Com

All people feel unsafe and insecure deep down!. God brings peace so that no matter what happens, a heaven awaits after death!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It means to me that Voltaire was living in a very small world in his mind!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

That in a society comprised of animals, without a moral compass, we would be lost!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

To me that quote expresses little faith on mankind and peoples ability to be good!. It implies that most people aren't capable of being good people or living a good life without some sort of motivation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com