The "Avis aux réfugiés" and Bayle's political thought: Perspectives of research

While the dispute on the attribution of the Avis aux réfugiés (1690) can he considered as definitively settled, it is time to analyse Bayle's political and religious thought not only in its particular expressions hut also di-achronically and as a whole. This can be a possible subject for future research, but it is by now clear that the Avis fully confirms that Bayle's critique of the political impact of religion is not directed towards a particular sect or confession, but against the general claim that religion can be «useful» for the maintenance of the social and political ties which are at the basis of human communities.