The Age of ReasonIn The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine declares that all religious traditions are ultimately established for the dependence of mankind. He openly criticizes the Bible and many of the fallacies contained within, as well as providing a shrewd analysis of Christianity and how it developed from its pagan ancestry-arguments many critics claim carry weight today. Being an idealist, a radical, and a master rhetorician, Paine wrote and lived with a keen sense of urgency and excitement. However, he alienated many of his countrymen with his incendiary viewpoints. Forced to leave America for England, Paine eventually returned to the United States in 1802, though he remained all but ostracized. He died in poverty seven years later in 1809. THOMAS PAINE (1737-1809) was an Anglo-American political theorist and writer born in Norfolk, England. In 1774, Paine emigrated to America, bearing letters of introduction from Benjamin Franklin. Soon thereafter, he became involved in the clashes between England and the American colonies and published the enormously successful pamphlet Common Sense in 1776, which was widely distributed and contributed to the patriot cause throughout the American Revolution. |
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Page 10
... never credited the story . It is curious to observe how the theory of what is called the Christian church sprung out of the tail of the heathen mythology . A direct incorporation took place in the first instance , by making the reputed ...
... never credited the story . It is curious to observe how the theory of what is called the Christian church sprung out of the tail of the heathen mythology . A direct incorporation took place in the first instance , by making the reputed ...
Page 11
... never was given . Instead of this , a small number of persons , not more than eight or nine , are introduced as proxies for the whole world , to say they saw it , and all the rest of the world are called upon to believe it . But it ...
... never was given . Instead of this , a small number of persons , not more than eight or nine , are introduced as proxies for the whole world , to say they saw it , and all the rest of the world are called upon to believe it . But it ...
Page 27
... never satisfied ; his ingratitude is never at an end . He takes on himself to direct the Almighty what to do , even in the government of the universe ; he prays dictatorially ; when it is sunshine , he prays for rain , and when it is ...
... never satisfied ; his ingratitude is never at an end . He takes on himself to direct the Almighty what to do , even in the government of the universe ; he prays dictatorially ; when it is sunshine , he prays for rain , and when it is ...
Page 33
... never fails to take place according to the account there given . This shows that man is acquainted with the laws by which the heavenly bodies move . But it would be something worse than ignorance , were any Church on earth to say that ...
... never fails to take place according to the account there given . This shows that man is acquainted with the laws by which the heavenly bodies move . But it would be something worse than ignorance , were any Church on earth to say that ...
Page 44
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absurd Age of Reason Ahaz Almighty ancient apostles appear authenticity Babylon behold believe Bible book called book of Chronicles book of Job book of Joshua book of Luke book of Matthew book of Samuel books ascribed books of Kings chap chapter character Christian system Chronicles church circumstance conceive consequently creation Creator David death Deism doctrine earth everything evidence Ezra fable fabulous former Genesis Gentiles give happened human hundred idea imposition impossible invention Isaiah Jeremiah Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jewish Jews Jonah Joshua king of Judah knowledge language lived Lord Luke manner matter meaning miracle moral Moses mystery Mythologists mythology Nebuchadnezzar person preached pretended priests principles prophesying prophets prove reign resurrection revelation round Samuel Saul says Solomon speaking story supposed system of religion tell Testament thee thou told true truth unto verse whole word writer written Zedekiah
Popular passages
Page 33 - Consider the lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Page 159 - There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
Page 76 - And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to...
Page 103 - And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand : and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries ? and he said, Nay ; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.
Page 143 - So they took the money, and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Page 91 - Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go.
Page 115 - At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Page 139 - And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent...