History of the establishment of Christianity

Voltaire

Newcomb Livraria Press

About this ebook

A new translation directly from the original French manuscript of Voltaire's 1777 History of the Establishment of Christianity. This edition also contains supplemental material on Voltaire including an afterword by the translator, a timeline of Voltaire's life and works, summaries of each of the works in his corpus, and a glossary of Philosophic Terminology used by Voltaire. Very similar to Bayle's works and Feuerbach's 1841 The Essence of Christianity, this book by Voltaire was a critical examination of the historical and political forces that led to the establishment of Christianity as a dominant religion in Europe, as well as it's downfall through Luther. Nietzsche would continue these arguments in his famous Twilight of the Idols (Götzen-Dämmerung).

About the author

Voltaire (1694-1778), born François-Marie Arouet, was a towering figure in the European Enlightenment, renowned for his wit, satirical genius, and fierce advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade. Born on November 21, 1694, in Paris, Voltaire was educated by the Jesuits at the Collège Louis-le-Grand, where he demonstrated an early talent in literature and theater. Despite a brief stint studying law, he devoted himself to writing, rapidly gaining fame for his sharp wit and eloquence. Voltaire's literary career was marked by numerous conflicts with French authorities, leading to periods of imprisonment and exile. His most famous stay at the Bastille prison was due to his satirical verse, which mocked the French Regent. This propensity for critique often saw him in conflict with the establishment, but it also earned him a reputation as a champion of the oppressed and a critic of religious and political dogma, including the Atheistic dogmatism of the French Revolution.