Voltaire's Candide is a story about a young, nave hero who lives his life based on the philosophy that all that occurs in the world is always for the best. However Candide's optimism, learned from his instructor Pangloss, gradually diminishes as he experiences the corruption of human nature through various adventures across the world. He becomes the target of human greed, violence, and intolerance. In chapter seventeen, Candide comes across Eldorado, a town that is perfect in his eyes. Candide believes it to be the place "where everything goes well."" The town reinstates Candide's enthusiastic perspective towards life and motivates him to continue his quest to find Lady Cunegonde. Candide's view of Eldorado as a Utopian society is conveyed through his descriptions of the city's harmonious religious and social systems, and by observing its drastic contrast with the rest of the novel.
One of the first things that Candide learns, and praises about Eldorado is its unique religion, one that lacks persecution. Upon his arrival to the town, Candide and his companion, Cacambo, are directed to the house of an old man. Here they learn the origins behind the strange lifestyles they encounter in Eldorado. Being a philosopher, Candide is very curious about the faith and beliefs of Eldorado's citizens and so he inquires which religion it is that they follow. The old man almost seems offended as he immediately responds by asking, "Can there be two religions?- Candide soon discovers that the town as a whole, willingly holds one simple belief. In fact, they have never known the idea of people being divided into groups and practicing organized religions. There has never been controversy amongst the townsfolk, posing no question for a new religion to arise. Their practice of a single belief brings the townspeople together, which in turn helps strengthen their culture and preserve it. Candide is surprised to find out that the people of Eldorado "don't pray.
