Religion of Humanity

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Positivist temple in Porto Alegre
Positivist temple in Porto Alegre

Religion of Humanity (fr. Religion de l'Humanité) was a secular religion created by Auguste Comte. Adherents of this religion have built chapels of Humanity in France and Brazil. [1]

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[edit] Religion of Humanity in Brazil

Comtean Positivism was relatively popular in Brazil. In 1881 Miguel Lemos and Raimundo Teixeira Mendes organized the "Positivist Church of Brazil." In 1897 the "Temple of Humanity" was created.[2] The services at the Temple could go on for up to four hours and that, combined with a certain moral strictness, led to some decline during the Republican period.[3] Nevertheless it had appeal with the military class as Benjamin Constant joined the group before breaking with it because he deemed Mendes and Lemos as too fanatical. Cândido Rondon conversion proved more solid as he remained an orthodox Positivist, and member of the faith, long after the church's importance waned.[4] Although declined the church survives in present day Brazil.

[edit] Other example

Inspired by August Comte, John Stuart Mill also started a Religion of Humanity. There are more examples of Religion of Humanity started by positivists, and there are several authors who have given the epithet to the religion they support, whatever the religion.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Où peut-on visiter un temple positiviste ? (Where Are Positivist Shrines to be Seen?) (French). Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
  2. ^ Latin American Thought: Philosophical Problems and Arguments By Susana Nuccetelli: Page 184
  3. ^ The Human Tradition in Modern Brazil By Peter M. Beattie: Pages 112-113
  4. ^ Stringing Together a Nation: Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon and the ... By Todd A. Diacon: pgs 83-84

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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