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the best we can to break up the most tenacious of all； the family。 …
We therefore give marriage the status of an ordinary contract： we
render this loose and precarious； resembling as much as possible the
free and transient union of the sexes； it shall be dissolved at the
option of both parties； and even of one of the parties； after one
month of formalities and of probation。 If the couple has lived
separate six months； the divorce may be granted without any probation
or delay； divorced parties may re…marry。 On the other hand； we
suppress marital authority： since spouses are equal； each has equal
rights over common property and the property of each other ； we
deprive the husband of its administration and render it 〃common〃 to
both parties。 We abolish 〃paternal authority；〃
〃 it is cheating nature to enforce her rights through constraint。 。
。 。 The only rights that parents have are those of protection and
watchfulness。〃＇91＇
The father can no longer control the education of his children； the
State takes charge of it。 The father is no longer master of his
property； that portion he can dispose of by donation or testament is
of the smallest； we prescribe an equal and forced division of
property。 … Finally we preach adoption； we efface bastardy； we confer
on children born of free love； or of a despotic will； the same rights
as those of legitimate children。 In short； we break that sacred
circle； that exclusive group； that aristocratic organization which；
under the name of the family； was created out of pride and egoism。＇92＇
… Henceforth； affection and obedience will no longer be frittered
away； the miserable supports to which they have clung like ivy vines；
castes； churches； corporations； provinces； communes or families； are
ruined and rooted out； on the ground which is thus leveled； the State
alone remains standing； and it alone offers any point of adhesion； all
these vines are about to twine themselves in on trunk about the great
central column。
VIII。
Indoctrination of mind and intellect。 … Civil religion。… National
education。 …Egalitarian moral standards。。… Obligatory civism。 … The
recasting and reduction of human nature to the Jacobin type。
Let not Man go astray； let us lead him on； let us direct minds and
souls； and； to this end； let us enfold him in our doctrines。 He needs
general ideas and the daily experiences flowing out of them； he needs
some theory explaining the origin and nature of things； one which
assigns him his place and the part he has to play in the world； which
teaches him his duties； which regulates his life； which fixes the days
he shall work and the days he shall rest； which stamps itself on his
mind through commemorations； festivals and ceremonies； through a
catechism and a calendar。 Up to this time Religion has been the power
charged with this service； interpreted and served by the Church； now
it is to be Reason； interpreted and served by the State。 … In this
connection； many among us； disciples of the encyclopedists； constitute
Reason a divinity； and honor her with a system of worship； but it is
plain that they personify an abstraction； their improvised goddess is
simply an allegorical phantom； none of them see in her the intelligent
cause of the world； in the depths of their hearts they deny this
Supreme Cause； their pretended religion being merely a show or a sham。
… We discard atheism； not only because it is false； but again； and
more especially； because it is disintegrating and unwholesome。＇93＇ We
want an effective； consolatory and fortifying religion； and that
religion is natural religion； which is social as well as true。
〃Without this；＇94＇ as Rousseau has said； it is impossible to be a good
citizen。。。 。。。The existence of divinity； the future life； the
sacredness of the social contract and of the laws；〃 all are its
dogmas； 〃no one may be forced to believe in these； but whoever dares
say that he does not believe in them； sets himself up against the
French people； the human species and nature。〃 Consequently； we decree
that 〃the French people recognizes the Supreme Being and the
immortality of the soul。〃 … The important thing now is to plant this
entirely philosophic faith in all hearts。 We introduce it into the
civil order of things； we take the calendar out of the hands of the
Church； we purge it of its Christian imagery； we make the new era
begin with the advent of the Republic； we divide the year according to
the metric system； we name the months according to the vicissitudes of
the seasons； 〃we substitute； in all directions； the realities of
reason for the visions of ignorance； the truths of nature for a
sacerdotal prestige；〃＇95＇ the decade for the week； the décadi for
Sundays； lay festivals for ecclesiastical festivals。＇96＇ On each
décadi； through solemn and appropriate pomp； we impress on the popular
mind one of the highest truths of our creed； we glorify； in the order
of their dates； Nature； Truth； Justice； Liberty； Equality； the People；
Adversity； Humanity； the Republic； Posterity； Glory； Patriotism；
Heroism； and other virtues。 Besides this； we honor the important days
of the Revolution； the taking of the Bastille； the fall of the Throne；
the punishment of the tyrant； the expulsion of the Girondins。 We；
too； have our anniversaries； our relics； the relics of Chalier and
Marat；＇97＇ our processions； our services； our ritual；＇98＇ and the vast
system of visible pageantry by which dogmas are made manifest and
propagated。 But ours； instead of leading men off to an imaginary
heaven； brings them back to a living patrimony； and； through our
ceremonies as well as through our creed； we shall preach public…
spiritedness （civism）。
It is important to preach this to adults； it is still more important
to teach it to children： for children are more easily molded than
adults。 Our hold on these still flexible minds is complete； and；
through national education 〃we seize the coming generations。〃＇99＇
Naught is more essential and naught is more legitimate。
〃The country；〃 says Robespierre； 〃has a right to bring up its own
children； it cannot confide this trust to family pride nor to the
prejudices of individuals； the eternal nourishment of aristocracies
and of a domestic federalism which narrows the soul by keeping it
isolated。〃 We are determined to have 〃education common and equal for
all French people；〃 and 〃we stamp on it a great character； analogous
to the nature of our government and the sublime doctrines of our
Republic。 The aim is no longer to form gentlemen （messieurs） but
citizens。〃＇100＇
We oblige＇101＇ teachers； male and female； to present certificates of
civism； that is to say； of Jacobinism。 We close the school if
〃precepts or maxims opposed to revolutionary morality〃 are taught in
it； that is to say； in conformity with Christian morals。 Children
will learn to read in the Declaration of Rights and in the
Constitution of 1793。 Republican manua