Society without Religion Is a Ship without a Compass

September 5

Here is a brief reflection upon the life of Napoleon and upon his views of Christ and Christianity. The following is authored by Bill Federer.

'There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity' -Napoleon

After the French Revolution, a slave revolt resulted in France's loss of Haiti (Saint-Domingue), one of the world's main producers of sugar. Desiring to replace it with another tropical colony in order to compete with Britain's India, the French General Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt in 1798.

Napoleon defeated the Egyptian Mamluk slave cavalry in just a few weeks. Napoleon then attempted to introduce democracy, equality and liberty but found there were no words in the Arabic language to convey such concepts, as the people had been ruled by the sword for centuries.

Napoleon uncovered the Pyramid treasures, the Rosetta Stone and conquered into Palestine. After losing the Battle of the Nile to Britain, Napoleon eventually had to return to France.

Napoleon, who was born AUGUST 15, 1769, conquered across Europe, including the countries of Italy, Austria, Poland, German States, Holland, Denmark and Norway. Napoleon's use of mobile artillery and the military tactic of 'envelopment' resulted in him being considered one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

Napoleon spread the metric system where all measurements were divisible by ten. He instituted a civil-legal system called the Napoleonic Code, which emancipated Catholics in Protestant countries and Protestants in Catholic countries, as well as Jews across Europe.

Fearing Haiti's slave rebellion would spread to the French Louisiana Territory, and badly needing money for his Army, Napoleon sold a million square miles of land to the United States in 1803 - the "Louisiana Purchase."

Napoleon hired Muslim Mamluk cavalry to invade Spain, but the draining Pennisular War resulted in Mexico declaring Independence.

Napoleon invaded Russia in June of 1812 with 400,000 men, six months later he retreated with only 40,000. The loss of French troops and his defeat at Leipzig led to Napoleon's abdication and exile on the Island of Elba in 1813.

After a year, he escaped and again took control of France for another 100 days, but lost the Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815. During the 17 years of Napoleonic Wars, an estimated 6 million Europeans died.

In October 1815, Napoleon was banished to the South Atlantic Island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821 at the age of 52.

Prior to his death, he reflected upon his life. Napoleon dictated his "Mémoires" to General de Montholon, Baron Gourgaud and General Bertrand. His conversations were written down by Emmanuel de Las Cases in Memorial de Sainte Hélène (published 1823).

Napoleon had complained to Montholon of not having a chaplain, resulting in Pope Pius VII petitioning England to allow Abbé Vignali to be sent. Napoleon read out loud the Old Testament, the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

Affirming his belief in God, Napoleon told Montholon:

"I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man."

He went on: “Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity...

“His religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man"

Napoleon continued telling Montholon:

"The religion of Christ is a mystery which subsists by its own force, and proceeds from a mind which is not a human mind. We find in it a marked individuality, which originated a train of words and actions unknown before..."

Napoleon added:

"Jesus is not a philosopher, for His proofs are miracles, and from the first His disciples adored Him. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but upon what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! But Jesus Christ founded His upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him."

Napoleon stated: "The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it."

Napoleon once told a Milan parish priest in 1797: "Society without religion is like a ship without a compass."