Voltaire and Protestantism

Author: Graham Gargett

Volume: 188

Series: SVEC

Publication Date: 1980

Pages: 532

ISBN: 978-0-7294-0243-9

Price: £55


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Acknowledgements
Prefatory note
Table of abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. Voltaire and the Reformation
i. The background to the Reformation
ii. Luther’s reform
iii. The Reformation spreads
iv. Voltaire’s attitude to the Reformation
3. Voltaire, the Reformers, their doctrines, and the ethos of Protestantism
i. Luther
ii. Zwingli and the minor reformers
iii. Calvin
iv. Protestant morality
v. Protestant theology
vi. The benefits of Erastianism
4. Protestantism in Holland
i. The enigma of Dutch toleration
ii. The Dutch character
5. Voltaire and Switzerland
i. The first months: uneasy peace
ii. Lausanne
iii. The first shots against Calvinism: ‘l’âme atroce’
iv. The ‘sociniens honteux’
v. The Saurin affair
vi. Ferney – splendid isolation
vii. Jacob Vernet (1698-1789)
viii. Jacob Vernes (1728-1791)
ix. Elie Bertrand (1713-1797)
x. Allamand (1709-1784)
xi. Paul Moultou (1731-1787)
xii. Geneva and Voltaire: the social and political element
xiii. Antoine
xiv. The Questions sur les miracles
xv. Conclusion
6. Protestantism in France: a civil disaster
i. The French Reformation and the civil wars
ii. The repeal of the Edict of Nantes and the Camisard uprising
7. Voltaire and the églises du désert: contemporary French Protestantism and the struggle for toleration
i. Before 1754
ii. 1754 – 1762
iii. The Rochette case
iv. The Calas case: Voltaire’s attitude crystallises
v. The consequences of the Calas case: initial optimism
vi. Fluctuating hopes and fortunes: 1764-1766
vii. Voltaire and Protestant assemblies
viii. Voltaire, Gilbert de Voisin’s Mémoires, and L’Ingenu
ix. The last years
x. Voltaire’s influence on the Protestant clergy
xi. Voltaire and Gal-Pomaret
xii. The Huguenots’ ridiculous characteristics
8. Protestantism in England: an enviable compromise
i. The development of toleration in England
ii. Quakers: the perfect pacifists
iii. Voltaire and the English Protestant influence
iv. Anglicanism: an example for the French
9. Conclusion
i. Voltaire’s God: a reassessment
ii. Voltaire and Protestantism: a temporary alliance
Appendix 1 The Saurin affair and the Colloques of Lausanne, Vevey and Aigle
Appendix 2 References to the Calas and Sirven affairs in Voltaire’s correspondence
Appendix 3 Protestant reaction to the Traité sur la tolérance and the identity of the pastors consulted during its preparation
Appendix 4 Le Siècle de Louis XIV: additions to and alterations of chapter 26 (‘Du Calvinisme au temps de Louis XIV’)
Appendix 5 A possible source for the Anglican clergyman Freind
List of works cited and consulted
Index

Voltaire Foundation

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