Voltaires dissatisfaction with institutionalized religion was a significant theme in Candide. To him, the hypocrisy of religion that permeated France and the European culture was so disturbing that it could not be lightly tolerated. While Candide is a work that encompasses a number of themes, it is that of religious falseness that stands out so strongly. Voltaire lived a philosophical life that was guided by ideals of independent spirituality, of uncorrupted thought, even in the face of persecution. While he presented a critical view of religion, particularly French religious practice, in nearly all of his works, it was in Candide, that he truly hit an effective high point. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate, through both primary and secondary source research, the extent and basic structures of Voltaires criticism of the hypocrisy of religion in Candide.
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