A new religion, Theophilanthropy, had been founded in 1796 by a Freemason printer-bookseller named Jean-Baptiste Chemin-Dupontès (1760–1852?).Bibliothèque nationale de France It was encouraged by the Director La Révellière-Lépeaux and the Ministry of the Interior, with the state paying for its newspaper. Members believed in God and in the immortality of the soul, but not in the original sin. The sect was similar in form to Calvinism, with readings aloud of texts, hymns and sermons. With the support of the Directory, the sect was given four churches in Paris, including Saint-Roch, Saint-Sulpice and, in April 1798, Notre-Dame de Paris, as well as churches in Dijon, Poitiers and Bordeaux. Members of the sect included some prominent figures, such as General Hoche, the industrialist Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, the painter Jean-Baptiste Regnault, and the American philosopher and political activist Thomas Paine. Beginning in May 1798, however, the Directory began to withdraw support from the newly established deistic sect, which it considered too close to the Jacobins. The sect still had eighteen churches in 1799, but in 1801 it was abolished by Bonaparte.
a new religion theophilanthropy had been founded in 1796 by a freemason printer-bookseller named jean-baptiste chemin-dupontès (1760–1852)bibliothèque nationale de france it was encouraged by the director la révellière-lépeaux and the ministry of the interior with the state paying for its newspaper members believed in god and in the immortality of the soul but not in the original sin the sect was similar in form to calvinism with readings aloud of texts hymns and sermons with the support of the directory the sect was given four churches in paris including saint-roch saint-sulpice and in april 1798 notre-dame de paris as well as churches in dijon poitiers and bordeaux members of the sect included some prominent figures such as general hoche the industrialist éleuthère irénée du pont the painter jean-baptiste regnault and the american philosopher and political activist thomas paine beginning in may 1798 however the directory began to withdraw support from the newly established deistic sect which it considered too close to the jacobins the sect still had eighteen churches in 1799 but in 1801 it was abolished by bonaparte