Let’s start with a modern twist: look up the word “impious” in today’s dictionary, and you’ll find it means lacking reverence or respect, especially for God or sacred things. Simple, right? But for Voltaire, that definition is the jumping-off point for something much more layered—and much sharper. In the “The Impious” section of his Philosophical Dictionary, Voltaire dives headfirst into how reverence is wielded, warped, and weaponized, all while delivering a sly smirk.
For Voltaire, being called impious isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What matters is why someone wears the label. Are they genuinely disrespectful of the sacred, or are they merely refusing to bow to oppressive dogma masquerading as piety? Voltaire’s take: it’s the latter that gets people into trouble, and that trouble often comes at the hands of those eager to declare themselves the sole arbiters of what’s sacred.
What is “The Great Demiourgos”?
Voltaire begins his critique by addressing those who claim to know the mind of “the great Demiourgos” (the creator of the universe). He makes it clear that he’s not mocking God, but rather the human tendency to shrink something infinite into absurd caricatures. He writes:
“If they are foolish enough to put God in a mist, in the rain, or on a mountain, and to surround him with little chubby, flushed faces accompanied by two wings; I laugh and I pardon them with all my heart.”
His point is clear: humans project their own limited understanding onto the divine, often creating something that reflects their weaknesses rather than transcending them. For Voltaire, authentic reverence requires humility—an acknowledgment of our inability to fully comprehend the infinite—not blind acceptance of someone else’s version of divinity.
The Tyranny of Impiety
Voltaire shifts focus to the dangers of misusing piety as a tool for tyranny. He warns against those who twist religion into a weapon, saying:
“The impious says… ‘See only through my eyes, do not think; I announce to you a tyrannical God who has made me to be your tyrant; I am his well-beloved: during all eternity he will torture millions of his creatures whom he detests in order to gladden me.'”
Voltaire’s biting critique here is timeless. Whether it’s the self-proclaimed moral authorities of his time or modern figures invoking divine approval to justify power grabs, the message is the same: beware of those who use God to demand obedience. True reverence, Voltaire implies, fosters freedom of thought, not its suppression.
The Impious and Authenticity
Voltaire’s existential leanings shine brightest in his reflections on authenticity. He rejects any attempt to live or think inauthentically, quipping:
“Do you want me to walk otherwise than with my feet, and to speak otherwise than with my mouth?”
This simple yet profound statement underscores his disdain for hypocrisy and pretense. For Voltaire, authenticity is a form of reverence—an honest engagement with life and the world around us. It’s a refusal to conform to arbitrary rules or falsehoods, whether they come from religion, society, or within ourselves.
Modern Examples: The Misuse of Piety
Voltaire’s warnings are eerily relevant today. Think of political leaders using “family values” to deflect from corruption, or social media influencers moralizing for clicks while selling detox teas. The misuse of piety is everywhere, from lawmakers citing divine will to restrict personal freedoms to corporations invoking morality to shield unethical practices.
The lesson? When someone claims to speak for “the great Demiourgos,” it’s worth asking: who benefits from their version of reverence? As Voltaire might suggest, the loudest condemnations of impiety often hide the most self-serving agendas.
Reverence, Freedom, and the Courage to Think
In the end, Voltaire leaves us with a challenge: to embrace an authentic reverence rooted in understanding, not fear. True piety, he suggests, is found not in rigid adherence to dogma but in the courage to think for oneself. And if that earns you the label of impious? Well, wear it with pride. As Voltaire shows us, questioning authority is often the most sacred act of all.