The Civil Religion in J. J. Rousseau’s Writings

Abstract

Rousseau’s philosophical-social system originated on the basis of French society’s affaires in the 18th century. French society was characterized then by a state of social disintegration, resulting from the lack of social consensus in the matter of culture and from the lack of solidarity in social matters. Rousseau’s intention was to put a stop to the progressing state of disintegration of values and norms in society and disintegration of social groups and to give society the state of homoestasis. In his opinion the reformation of the settled „order” could be carried out only when basing on the social consensus but this should be restricted by the religious sanction. He called this system of overcoming the anomaly and settling cultural and social norms „Religion civile”. The term is coined by Rousseau himself and given by him specific meaning. According to Rousseau only religion which introduces order in society and individuals can justify its existence. The religion which would turn out most suitable for the state would be this true one. In his teaching the interest of the state, which is identified with the interest of every individual decides about the meaning of the civil religion. On the whole. Rousseau understood a minimal social consensus under the term civil religion. This social consensus would mean a group of beliefs, norms and practices which would be accepted by all members of society. This, in turn, would lead to settling cultural and social norms in the country and would make man stay in agreement with himself and other people. The consensus would have the form of a confession of civil faith and would determine the positive social maxims recognized and approved of by every individual; it would determine negative all those intolerant maxims which should be rejected by society.

Rousseau’s construction is directed towards reconciliation between freedom of the individual and its restrictions resulting from the requirements of social life. The maxims come within the domain of the civil religion doctrine which postulates the defined form of cult, ie. a defined manner of conduct towards the beliefs considered as „holy”. The doctrine and cult of the civil religion created from the consensus will primarily have the integrating function.

Rousseau’s system, despite the fact that it does not solve all the antinomies of life in society, has many ideas which were developed by other thinkers. His system, and particularly the „social consensus”, was the basis of many revolutionaries’ political education; thus it had its share in the preparation of the French Revolution. The inspiring character of this doctrine can be easily seen in the thoughts of the classics of German philosophy — in Kant and Hegel. It also had a considerable influence on the French thinkers — Comte and Durkheim.