Did the Religion of Reason appeal to the aristocratic and educated classes of eighteenth century America?

Answer 1

Deism was the religion that appealed to the educated classes of America during the eighteenth century. This apparently included a number of the Founding Fathers. Deism was a religion of the Enlightenment and acknowledges that there was a creator God, but says that after creating the world he took no further interest in his creation, thereby repudiating most of The Bible. This could be called a religion of reason, but it was not the cult properly known as the Religion of Reason.

The Cult of Reason arose in France after the French Revolution as a reaction to the Roman Catholic Church. Its roots were no doubt in the Enlightenment that preceded. As it denied the existence of gods, it could be considered atheistic but its premise was opposition to religion rather than reasoned non-belief. This cult was largely limited to France and had no appeal to the aristocracy nor to the educated classes of America.

The excesses of the French Revolution brought a strong reaction that not only meant a repudiation of the Religion of Reason but also an end to the Enlightenment, even in America.

Answer 2

Yes, the Religion of Reason appealed to the aristocratic and educated classes of eighteenth-century America as it emphasized rationality, scientific inquiry, and skepticism towards traditional religious beliefs. It provided an alternative intellectual framework that suited the enlightenment values embraced by these social groups.