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The French government introduced a new State religion on 10th November, 1793: the \u2018Cult of Reason\u2019, which attempted to reflect the anti-clerical attitudes of the French Revolution.\xa0\nBut - as with the new secular calendar that reset the year to zero and gave democratic names to the months - the general public did not take to their local Church becoming a \u2018Temple of Reason\u2019, and most of the men involved in propagating the idea were ultimately executed.\nThe worship of reason was personified by living women in Roman dresses, who were met with ridicule, and a mishmash of Greek and Roman-inspired ceremonies that struggled to define their purpose, often resembling confused and peculiar public exhibitions rather than a cohesive religious doctrine.\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider Robespierre's replacement religion, the "Cult of the Supreme Being"; explain how Napoleon's rise marked the end of both cults; and reveal how the Temples of Reason provided one truly enduring legacy: cremation\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\n\u2018The Cult of Reason\u2019 (BBC History Magazine, 2015): https://www.pressreader.com/uk/bbc-history-magazine/20151008/281698318658789\n\n\n\u2018The Notre Dame Cathedral Was Nearly Destroyed By French Revolutionary Mobs\u2019 (HISTORY, 2019): https://www.history.com/news/notre-dame-fire-french-revolution\n\n\n\u2018When Atheists Persecuted Christians - The Cult of Reason\u2019 (Theopedia, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWOUmO7Lpd4\nWe'll be back on Monday - unless you join \U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\U0001f334, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!\nPlus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices