The French revolution was good. It got rid of the theocratic influence there, and ended the evil institution of the monarchy.
Lots of bad things happened, but in the end, they wound up with one of the best republics in Europe. I cannot think of one that enshrines more freedom unless you look into eastern Europe that emerged after the iron curtain fell.
It was a semi-win.
State churches are bad news, especially when there’s real pressure to join them for reasons having nothing to do with spirituality. It’s better even being atheist, probably, than that. Atheist is more honest about where the people are. And that’s where France is. Catholic interest is little. Protestant interest is even less.
A believer’s revolution was found more in America. Perfect no. “The worst system in the world except for all the rest” — yes.
the first and second french republics were violent, bloody failures. they’re currently on their fifth.
whatever else the early revolutions were, they were damn well not “good”. Jesus, didn’t anyone pass history?
The French revolution was a profoundly terrible event: it led directly to The Terror and to the genocide in the Vendee. Then on to ‘World War 0’ against Napoleon.
We can agree that France badly needed a revolution. But the one that they got was like a door opening on hell.