Ernest Hello
M. Renan, l'Allemagne et l'athéisme au XIXe siècle
"L'Allemagne et l'athéisme au XIXe siècle" by Ernest Hello is a philosophical and theological critique written in the mid-19th century. The work aims to explore and challenge the principles of atheism, particularly as articulated by the prominent thinker M. Renan. Hello sets out to defend the integrity of religion, society, and both moral and scientific truths against what he perceives to be the dangerous repercussions of atheistic thought. At the start of the text, Hello emphatically declares his intent to dissect and refute atheism's claims, specifically addressing Renan's nuanced position on the existence of God. He argues that denying God, whether outright or in a roundabout manner, ultimately undermines the essential foundations of being and society. Hello presents a detailed examination of atheism's four negations: negations of religion, of society, of science, and ultimately, he suggests, of the very essence of humanity. His writing is passionate and assertive, establishing a stark dichotomy between the affirmation of existence and the nihilism he attributes to atheistic philosophy. In essence, the opening portion serves as a clarion call for the revival of faith and the acknowledgment of an ultimate truth that exists beyond the bounds of skepticism.