Question

"It does not require great art, or magnificently trained eloquence, to prove 3 points

that Christians should tolerate each other. I, however, am going further: 1
say that we should regard all men as our brothers. What? The Turk my
brother? The Chinaman my brother? The Jew? The Siam? Yes, without
doubt; are we not all children of the same father and creatures of the
same God?" - Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance, 1763 1. This quotation by
Voltaire points to which of the following conclusions about the
Enlightenment? *
a. Missionary activities grew stronger during the takeover of the Americas.
b. Many enlightenment thinkers began to use reason to discuss toleration of other
religious beliefs.
O c. Atheism had taken hold in Europe during the age of Enlightenment.
d. Voltaire believed that Christianity should be spread to the Jews, the Turks, as well
as Asia.

Answer 1

Voltaire's quote reflects Enlightenment ideals of using reason to promote religious tolerance and view all humans as brothers, aligning with the era's values of liberty, tolerance, and brotherhood. The quote suggests that Enlightenment thinkers used reason to advocate for toleration of different religious beliefs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The quotation by Voltaire you've presented reflects one of the central ideas of the Enlightenment: the use of reason to challenge existing doctrines and practices, including religious tolerance. In this quote, Voltaire is advocating for the idea that we should see all humans as brothers, irrespective of their faith or origin. This aligns with the Enlightenment thinkers' movement toward using reason as the ultimate guide in society, as well as questioning traditional authority figures and beliefs, and promoting values such as tolerance, equality, and brotherhood. It signifies a departure from religious conflicts and points towards a more humane approach, where religion is not a reason for discord.

Tolerance of other religious beliefs during the Enlightenment was a reaction to the religious wars that preceded it. Thinkers like Voltaire did not advocate for atheism in Europe; instead, they sought to curtail the political power of organized religion. Regarding your options, the best conclusion inferred from Voltaire's quote is that Enlightenment thinkers, like Voltaire himself, were using reason to discuss and advocate for the toleration of different religious beliefs, which matches answer choice 'b'.