"If God Did Not Exist It Would Be Necessary To Invent Him."

[Skwim]

In the 18th century there was was a manuscript, Traité sur les trois imposteurs (The three Imposters) that is said to have been turned into a book of questionable origin---many believe the whole thing was a hoax.

"The document purported to be a text handed down from generation to generation detailing how the three major figures of Biblical religion: Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses were in fact misrepresenting what had happened to them.
In 1770, the great Enlightenment satirist Voltaire, published a response to the hoax treatise entitled Épître à l'Auteur du Livre des Trois Imposteurs, which contains one of his best-known quotations, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him."
source:Wikipedia

Many feel there's a great deal of truth in what Voltaire said, which, no doubt, is why it's still remembered. For one thing it recognizes that the notion of a god serves an almost indispensable function in the lives of many people, which highlights the frailty of the human psyche and its needs. For another, considering the particular nature of god that's often described, it shows the extent to which people will go to embrace such a supreme being.


Your thoughts?


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[The Holy Bottom Burp]

Sure, I think the Cargo Cults with 'John Frum' as a deity demonstrate why and how religions begin, how deities emerge. Deities are what a lot of people use to help them get through the trials and tribulations of life, and "god did it" explains all the unknowns, an attractive package. It is hard to imagine a time when the human race has progressed to a point where we dispense with deities, but I live in hope. Don't think I'll be around to see that day if it ever comes!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

When god didn't exist, they invented him.

 

[Quintessence]

It seems likely that Voltaire was speaking of a specific god-concept and its associated theology. It was not atypical of thinkers in that period to presume their brand of theism was in some way required or inevitable to human civilization. It's a very dated notion and one that I do not agree with. I have a hard time seeing anything about a "supreme being" model of deity as necessity. Maybe certain individuals need to have a deity like that in their lives, but many of us feel no need for it at all or find it absurd.

 

[Skwim]

It seems likely that Voltaire was speaking of a specific god-concept and its associated theology. It was not atypical of thinkers in that period to presume their brand of theism was in some way required or inevitable to human civilization.

Just as an FYI, Voltaire was a deist.

It's a very dated notion and one that I do not agree with.

As I noted, it's a well remembered remark, which implies it's substantive and not dated at all. And, I don't see anything that would date it.

I have a hard time seeing anything about a "supreme being" model of deity as necessity.

Many people have a great need for comfort and reassurance, and the notion that there is an all-powerful supreme being willing to look after a person, comforting and reassuring them, is necessary to their mental well being.

Maybe certain individuals need to have a deity like that in their lives, but many of us feel no need for it at all or find it absurd.

And there you go. Thing is, these certain individuals amount to a whole lot of people, particularly in America.

"A Personal God: The ISSP [International Social Survey Programme] also asked respondents whether and how much they agreed or disagreed with the statement, “There is a God who concerns himself with every human being personally.” In 2008, 68% of Americans agreed; only Chileans and Filipinos were likelier to agree."
source

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[Quintessence]

The problem with dissecting someone's post sentence by sentence out of context is that one tends to miss the overall point.

 

[corynski]

I would humbly disagree with Voltaire on that one. Necessary seems a bit strong...... Our reflective consciousness emerges from aeons of nothingness, lives a few years (a heartbeat in cosmic time) then suddenly returns to nothingness..... what a dismal thought I guess, if you can't accept reality...... But I have been very fortunate in this life, for those not so, why not accept the assistance of whatever works, be it a god or an angel who watches over...... whatever keeps your feelings and mind positive and helps you to achieve goals.