Theophilanthropie
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Theophilanthropie
La Reveillere-Lepaux, the pope of this cult, baptises a child in a former church : members celebrate their love for humankind in ceremonies involving fruit and flowers
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Media ID 4390847
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10201659
1796 Baptises Celebrate Ceremonies Cult Cults Involving Members Humankind
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures a moment from the unusual religious ceremony of Theophilanthropie, a short-lived cult that emerged during the French Revolution. The photograph, taken in 1796, depicts the cult's founder, Jean-Baptiste-Claude Reveillère-Lepaux, also known as Theophilanthropes or Theophilus the Friend of Mankind, baptizing a child in a former church. Theophilanthropie was a unique religious movement that celebrated love and compassion for humankind through fruit and flower offerings, communal meals, and baptisms. Theophilanthropes believed that the divine resided in every human being and sought to spread joy and kindness through their actions. Their ceremonies, held in abandoned churches and other public spaces, were a stark contrast to the political turmoil and violence of the time. Members of the cult gathered to sing hymns, share meals, and exchange gifts of fruit and flowers, creating a sense of community and unity. In this photograph, we see Theophilanthropes' founder performing a baptism, surrounded by members who hold baskets of fruit and bouquets of flowers. The child being baptized is dressed in white, symbolizing purity and innocence. The use of natural elements in the ceremony reflects the cult's reverence for the beauty and interconnectedness of the natural world. This historical photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into a little-known aspect of religious history, illustrating the power of community and the human capacity for hope and compassion, even in the midst of adversity.
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