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public rights。 From now on the charm is broken。 Ancient institutions
lose their divine prestige； they are simply human works； the fruits of
the place and of the moment； and born out of convenience and a
covenant。 Skepticism enters through all the breaches。 With regard to
Christianity it at once enters into open hostility； into a bitter and
prolonged polemical warfare； for； under the title of a state religion
this occupies the ground； censuring free thought； burning writings；
exiling； imprisoning or disturbing authors； and everywhere acting as a
natural and official adversary。 Moreover； by virtue of being an
ascetic religion； it condemns not only the free and cheerful ways
tolerated by the new philosophy but again the natural tendencies it
sanctions； and the promises of terrestrial felicity with which it
everywhere dazzles the eyes。 Thus the heart and the head both agree in
their opposition。 Voltaire； with texts in hand； pursues it from
one end to the other of its history； from the first biblical narration
to the latest papal bulls； with unflagging animosity and energy； as
critic； as historian； as geographer； as logician； as moralist；
questioning its sources； opposing evidences； driving ridicule like a
pick…ax into every weak spot where an outraged instinct beats against
its mystic walls； and into all doubtful places where ulterior
patchwork disfigures the primitive structure。 He respects；
however； the first foundation； and； in this particular； the greatest
writers of the day follow the same course。 Under positive religions
that are false there is a natural religion that is true。 This is the
simple and authentic text of which the others are altered and
amplified translations。 Remove the ulterior and divergent excesses and
the original remains； this common essence； on which all copies
harmonize； is deism。 The same operation is to be made on civil
and political law。 In France； where so many survive their utility；
where privileges are no longer paid for with service； where rights are
changed into abuses； how incoherent is the architecture of the old
Gothic building！ How poorly adapted to a modern nation ！ Of what use；
in an unique and compact state； are those feudal compartments
separating orders； corporations and provinces？ What a living paradox
is the archbishop of a semi…province； a chapter owning 12；000 serfs； a
drawing room abbé well supported by a monastery he never saw； a lord
liberally pensioned to figure in antechambers； a magistrate purchasing
the right to administer justice； a colonel leaving college to take the
command of his inherited regiment； a Parisian trader who； renting a
house for one year in Franche…Comté； alienates through this act alone
the ownership of his property and of his person。 Throughout Europe
there are others of the same character。 The best that can be said of
〃a civilized nation〃 ＇12＇ is that its laws； customs and practices are
composed 〃one…half of abuses and one…half of tolerable usage〃。
But； underneath these concrete laws； which contradict each other； and
of which each contradicts itself； a natural law exists； implied in the
codes； applied socially； and written in all hearts。
〃Show me a country where it is honest to steal the fruits of my
labor； to violate engagements； to lie for injurious purposes； to
calumniate； to assassinate； to poison； to be ungrateful to one's
benefactor； to strike one's father and mother on offering you food〃。 …
〃Justice and injustice is the same throughout the universe；〃
and； as in the worst community force always； in some respects； is
at the service of right； so； in the worst religion； the extravagant
dogma always in some fashion proclaims a supreme architect。
Religions and communities； accordingly； disintegrated under the
investigating process； disclose at the bottom of the crucible； some
residue of truth； others a residue of justice； a small but precious
balance； a sort of gold ingot of preserved tradition； purified by
Reason； and which little by little； freed from its alloys； elaborated
and devoted to all usage； must solely provide the substance of
religion and all threads of the social warp。
V。 THE DREAM OF A RETURN TO NATURE。
The second stage； a return to nature。 … Diderot； d'Holbach and the
materialists。 … Theory of animated matter and spontaneous
organization。 … The moral of animal instinct and self…interest
properly understood。
Here begins the second philosophic expedition。 It consists of two
armies： the first composed of the encyclopedists； some of them
skeptics like d'Alembert； others pantheists like Diderot and Lamarck；
the second open atheists and materialists like d'Holbach； Lamettrie
and Helvétius； and later Condorcet； Lalande and Volney； all different
and independent of each other； but unanimous in regarding tradition as
the common enemy。 As a result of prolonged hostilities the parties
become increasingly exasperated and feel a desire to be master of
everything； to push the adversary to the wall； to drive him out of all
his positions。 They refuse to admit that Reason and tradition can
occupy and defend the same citadel together； as soon as one enters the
other must depart； henceforth one prejudice is established against
another prejudice。 In fact； Voltaire； 〃the patriarch； does not
desire to abandon his redeeming and avenging God；〃＇13＇ let us tolerate
in him this remnant of superstition on account of his great services；
let us nevertheless examine this phantom in man which he regards with
infantile vision。 We admit it into our minds through faith； and faith
is always suspicious。 It is forged by ignorance； fear； and
imagination； which are all deceptive powers。 At first it was simply
the fetish of savages； in vain have we striven to purify and
aggrandize it； its origin is always apparent； its history is that of a
hereditary dream which； arising in a rude and doting brain； prolongs
itself from generation to generation； and still lasts in the healthy
and cultivated brain。 Voltaire wanted that this dream should be true
because； otherwise； he could not explain the admirable order of the
world。 Since a watch suggests a watchmaker he had firstly to prove
that the world is a watch and； then see if the half…finished
arrangement； such as it is and which we have observed； could not
better be explained by a simpler theory； more in conformity with
experience； that of eternal matter in which motion is eternal。 Mobile
and active particles； of which the different kinds are in different
states of equilibrium； these are minerals； inorganic substances；
marble； lime； air； water and coal。＇14＇ I form humus out of this； 〃I
sow peas； beans and cabbages；〃 plants find their nourishment in the
humus； and 〃I find my nourishment in the plants。〃 At every meal；
within me； and through me； inanimate matter becomes animate； 〃I
convert it into flesh。 I animalize it。 I render it sensitive。〃 It
harbors latent； impe