Who did Voltaire mean?

Question

I was curious as to what people believe Voltaire meant by the following quote.

"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."

Answer 1

Just my opinion:

I think Voltaire meant that the questions that people held to be answered by reference to a divine Creator were so paramount to humans that to satisfy the need fro answers it would have been necessary for humans to suppose there was a divine Creator.

I don't have easy access to the source so I can't say for sure if he meant the "if" as a hypothetical statement only or if he meant it to be an assertion of something being contrary to fact.  (I think this last is unlikely since I believe he recognized it isn't possible to prove that God does not exist.)

Answer 2

meaning god doesnt exist but people created a "god" image to answer questions science cant prove yet

Answer 3

Voltaire meant that humanity was not ready for science prior to the enlightenment.  Since there were no scientific explanations for things that happened, people still did feel a need to explain why things happen and to "know the answer."  God fills in the blanks in what people lack in understanding.

Why was their lightning and thunder?  God was angry!

Why was there famine?  God was angry!

Why were vicious people rewarded and kind people harmed?

God favored the vicious people via their ancestors!

Why won't mommy and daddy allow me out late at night?

Because the evil Jotun might come along and eat you or kidnap you away to Hel!

"God" is likewise a moral crutch for those still learning morality.  Little kids need "God" because they don't yet understand the value of family connections, why laws are important, or even that there might be a higher good to which to aspire that extends perhaps even beyond mere human survival.  On this count, I do not begrudge that there be a "God" for this purpose.

Ok, now I've probably gone a bit beyond Voltaire, so, for the purpose of the question I should probably end here before I start including my mosaic and hybrid understandings that bring in Bentham, Kant, and Sartre.

Answer 4

This comment was pure sarcasm with a hint of resentment.

He meant that a god does exist in the dogma (man-made tradition) of Catholics. He considered Christians brainwashed lemmings, which is sometimes true. The bishops of the church held great power which he concluded was god invented by man. This is the way Gnostic's preached in an effort to grab control of Christianity. They actually believed they could harness "magic" power attributed to the Apostles and Jesus Christ. He also consider Jews outright liars or at best myth makers.

I believe Voltaire wanted power over what men believe. Which is why at his deathbed he wrote, "I am abandoned by God and man," and "For God's sake, let me die in peace." He wanted to lead his own "enlightened" humanistic church, but failed.

My personal thought is that Voltaire was angry because of the hold the "church" has over so many. This anger clouded his view of the good and worthwhile influences of the Christian faith and what I believe is the real love of God the Creator.

Answer 5

I don't think there is anything particularly obtuse about the statement.

The masses need something to believe in.  I doesn't matter if it is real or not.