WHO's THE GREATEST ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHER?
...others. Since he was a brilliant and valiant writer, he always used his writings to target and denounces the wicked works of the church and the French Government. He was repeatedly sent to prison and was exiled to another country by the French Government. He envisage that for a government to function well people must have the right to express themselves freely. His idea of Freedom of Speech was guaranteed in the US’ Bill of Rights and the French Declaration of Independence. It is important to a government to assure the freedom of speech to lessen the social unrest of its citizen that can lead to a civil war, because of the lack of information and people having no right to criticize an unjust and onerous government. Freedom of Religion, an idea of Voltaire, is the right of the people to choose their religion, and the government must have no business regarding the church and the church having no concern regarding the government’s business. Being an atheist, Voltaire has always been a subject of the church’s criticism in France. That is why he taught that for people to be happy, they must be able to choose their religion freely or not be involved in religious activities, and for the government and the church to be separated. The United States’ Bill of Rights and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man assured that every person can choose their religion and that the church and government be separated. The importance of this is that church and government in a democracy can not abuse the each others power, and people can choose their religion they want. Voltaire’s idea of tolerance meant that one would take no steps to coerce physically or otherwise other individuals into changing their beliefs, thoughts, or customs. One was still free to disapprove of those beliefs, thoughts, or customs. Because of the violence going on between the Catholics and the Protestants in his days, Voltaire taught the only solution apparent for this problem is if one party tolerates the other. Voltaire’s idea of tolerance influenced the United States’ Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights’ third amendment states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Tolerance is important to a democracy because without it bigotry and prejudice will embrace the society and civil wars will be the fruit of these things. Voltaire’s ideas of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, and the concept of tolerance made him made him the greatest contributor to the development of democracy. Other governments who implement no Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion and promote intolerance should revise their p...