Comparing Voltaire's Candide And Religion

In Candide, there are many instances where Voltaire blatantly criticizes multiple aspects pertaining to the Enlightenment period. One aspect in particular that Voltaire criticizes many times throughout this text, is the religion of his time. Voltaire’s history of conflict with the Catholic Church heavily influences his writings and beliefs. Candide provides many situations that depict how the Catholic Church during this period is hypocritical or overly structured. Voltaire in this episode emphasizes a fundamental Enlightenment value: the rejection of obedience to religious authority.
From a very early age, Voltaire clashed heads with the French authorities for his bold attacks on the Catholic Church and the government, which results in him …show more content…
During this time, the Anabaptist acquired an unpopular view because they reject all types of religious rituals. In this scene, Candide has just made it out of a worn torn city and finally finds himself in the Christian country of Holland. Here, he is without food or work, so he goes around with his hand out begging for some type of charity to be received. The orator asks Candide a question to evaluate where Candide stood on a particular subject, and apparently Candide’s answer offends the orator. Hearing Candide’s answer, the orator angrily roars, “You don’t deserve any…away with you, you rascal, you rogue, never come near me as long as you live” (359). This commotion triggers the orator’s wife to empty out her household chamber pot on top of Candide’s head. This passage shows the negative characteristics that are personified by the hypocritical orator and his wife in comparison to the Anabaptist. While the orator and his wife are described as religious enthusiast that are preaching on charity, it is actually Jacques who performs the true act of

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