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Like most of Voltaire\'s writings on Asian religions, thisbears slight relation to real Asian thought. It is instead a vehiclefor the expression of some of his more daring criticisms of Christiantheology. By using the dialogue format, he can offer two disputants,one more skeptical than the other. What is his attitude towardthe concept of Heaven on p. 79? Does he reject the concept thatEarth is unique in the universe? In ridiculing the myth of Fohe is of course mocking the Christian doctrine of the Incarnationof Christ. With what objection does Koo meet the traditional argumentthat the marvel of the eye implies a creator? What attitude towardbelief in God does his story of the crickets imply? Why does hequote Confucius on p.
81? What is he trying to imply about theethics of Christianity? (Confucius lived several centuries beforeChrist.) Notice that Koo argues that humanity is more diligentin suppressing evil than is God. Wht do you think of this argument?What attitude toward immortality does Ku-Su express at the endof the Second Conversation? The Third Conversation offers familiararguments against the existence of the soul (see Ame, Soulabove). with some original twists. One of the most importantpassages occurs on p. 83, where Koo says \"What impressiondo you want to give me of the architect of so many millions ofworlds were he obliged to carry out so many repairs to keep hiscreation going?\" What is the point of this question? Noticethat on p.
85 he argues that at least half of the Ten Commandments(the laws of the Sinoos) are necessarily universal, thus implyingthat morality need not be based on any particular religious revelation.What arguments does he bring against the idea of divine judgmentafter death on p. 86? Koo seems to give in to faith grudginglyon p. 86: why does he do so? What are his arguments against prayerand sacrifice in the Fourth Conversation? What does Koo claimare the real motives of the bonzes (priests) in preaching as theydo? What does Ku-Su argue on p. 88 is natural law? Why does Voltairelike King Daon? In the Fifth Conversation, what sorts of virtuesare admired in a king? The king being ridiculed on p. 90 in Koo\'sstatement about those with 300 wives, etc.
is Solomon. What relationshipdoes the last paragraph on p. 90 have to the article Abbé,which you read earlier? Why does Ku-Su argue that friendship shouldnot be made a religious teaching? Why does he claim that Confuciusrecommends to his followers to love their enemies? (In fact hedoes not.) On p. 92, the \"impertinent peoples\" referredto are of course the Europeans (see footnote). Voltaire\'scriticisms of \"taverns\" reflect the low state ofcommercial hospitality in his day.
Commodious hotels and restaurantswere founded only after the French Revolution, when the wealthycould no longer automatically stay as guests in aristocratic mansions.Voltaire himself was a perennial house guest for many years. Whatcriticisms does he make of the Christian concept of humility onp. 94? What do you think of these criticisms? What are the basicreligious beliefs that Koo endorses at the end of the essay?
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