Why was France de-Christianized during the French Revolution?

Answer 1

The Catholic Church was damaged but not destroyed as a political and economic force during the French Revolution. Church property, monasteries and convents were appropriated by the state. The tithe was ended and priests were required to take an oath of allegiance to the Nation or to leave the country. There were many priests who were slaughtered and it was not until 1801 that Napoleon reached a Concordat with the Pope. He restored Church authority over matters of faith but he did not return Church Property.

In defense of the French Government, the Ancient Regime had allowed the Catholic Church to become the largest land owner in the Nation and it controlled no less than 10% of the nation's wealth, paid no taxes and received a tithe from everyone in the Third Estate. It exploited, was inefficient and corrupt.

Answer 2

The Catholic Church had been too closely associated withthe monarchy and therefore with the excesses of the monarchy. There was no recent European history of revolution against the reigning monarchy as an instiitution, and the revolutionaries seemed not to know where to stop. They suppressed the monastries and forced priests to swear loyalty to a puppet Church. A "Religion of Humanity" was instituted, complete with temples to Reason and Liberty. Even the Christian Calendar was replaced, for a time, by a revolutionary calendar that marked the years from the date of the Proclamation of the French Republic.

The inevitable reaction to these excesses brought about the end to the Enlightenment, as those in power throughout Europe feared the consequences of free thinking.

Answer 3

It did not. The French revolution took the opportunity to separate the state and (all) religion.