2 replies to this topic

[TianZi]

As some of you may remember, Paine was the so-called "Father of the American Revolution" who wrote "Common Sense" and "The Crisis" in 1776, which included such stirring lines as "These are the times that try mens' souls."

One work of his with which you probably aren't as familiar (unless you studied American history at the university level) is The Age of Reason, written toward the end of his life. This is because it is quite critical of the Christian faith, and the US is an essentially Christian society. To this day, it isn't deemed acceptable material for children in public schools.

I found the book to be remarkable in its cogent excoriation of the Christian faith, particularly that based on a literal interpretation of the Bible. Paine does so in a witty, eminently readable manner. It says something when the writings of a man dead for centuries can cause me to laugh so hard I almost fell off my chair.

A portion of the book was written by Paine on scraps of paper while in a prison cell in France, awaiting execution during the Reign of Terror. His imprisonment was a direct result of views he had already expressed on religion (as well as his opposition to executing the former king, nobility, and assorted members of the French populace). Paine, despite being critical of the Christian faith, something Robespierre could applaud, at the same time revealed himself as a Deist, something the devoutly atheistic Robespierre abhorred. Only Robespierre's ouster on the very eve of Paine's scheduled execution, and the intervention of Monroe (later president of the US), allowed him to escape the guillotine.

A link to the full text of The Age of Reason can be found at this website (scroll to the bottom):

http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/

Part I was largely written while in a jail cell, without having the benefit of a Bible handy. It is in Part 2, written some years later, that he illustrates the absurdity of a strict interpretation of the Bible as representing the literal word of God by analyzing the very language in it, pointing to inconsistency after inconsistency that could only be the product of eminently fallible men (or a very addled Divine Being).

The publication of this book in the US inspired an uproar among American Christians, and it was roundly condemned as blasphemous. He was thereafter mainly shunned, and his funeral only attended by a handful of persons. His contributions to the founding of the United States had been forgotten, and even decades later Abraham Lincoln was advised against praising him publicly.

I believe he deserves to be remembered and his achievements celebrated, including the writing of The Age of Reason, which should be required reading for all high school students in the United States (along with portions of the Bible, and not just those cherry-picked to avoid shocking and offending persons unfamiliar with its full text).

[william7]

The circumstance that has now taken place in France of the total abolition of the whole national order of priesthood, and of everything appertaining to compulsive systems of religion, and compulsive articles of faith, has not only precipitated my intention, but rendered a work of this kind exceedingly necessary, lest in the general wreck of superstition, of false systems of government, and false theology, we lose sight of morality, of humanity, and of the theology that is true.

...

I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.

I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.

...

I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.

All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.

I haven't read the whole thing, but Thomas Paine certainly knows what he's talking about here. No wonder nobody wanted to come to his funeral. May be Yahweh will resurrect him to a new life on earth.

[suspire]

As some of you may remember, Paine was the so-called "Father of the American Revolution" who wrote "Common Sense" and "The Crisis" in 1776, which included such stirring lines as "These are the times that try mens' souls."

One work of his with which you probably aren't as familiar (unless you studied American history at the university level) is The Age of Reason, written toward the end of his life. This is because it is quite critical of the Christian faith, and the US is an essentially Christian society. To this day, it isn't deemed acceptable material for children in public schools.

I found the book to be remarkable in its cogent excoriation of the Christian faith, particularly that based on a literal interpretation of the Bible. Paine does so in a witty, eminently readable manner. It says something when the writings of a man dead for centuries can cause me to laugh so hard I almost fell off my chair.

A portion of the book was written by Paine on scraps of paper while in a prison cell in France, awaiting execution during the Reign of Terror. His imprisonment was a direct result of views he had already expressed on religion (as well as his opposition to executing the former king, nobility, and assorted members of the French populace). Paine, despite being critical of the Christian faith, something Robespierre could applaud, at the same time revealed himself as a Deist, something the devoutly atheistic Robespierre abhorred. Only Robespierre's ouster on the very eve of Paine's scheduled execution, and the intervention of Monroe (later president of the US), allowed him to escape the guillotine.

A link to the full text of The Age of Reason can be found at this website (scroll to the bottom):

http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/

Part I was largely written while in a jail cell, without having the benefit of a Bible handy. It is in Part 2, written some years later, that he illustrates the absurdity of a strict interpretation of the Bible as representing the literal word of God by analyzing the very language in it, pointing to inconsistency after inconsistency that could only be the product of eminently fallible men (or a very addled Divine Being).

The publication of this book in the US inspired an uproar among American Christians, and it was roundly condemned as blasphemous. He was thereafter mainly shunned, and his funeral only attended by a handful of persons. His contributions to the founding of the United States had been forgotten, and even decades later Abraham Lincoln was advised against praising him publicly.

I believe he deserves to be remembered and his achievements celebrated, including the writing of The Age of Reason, which should be required reading for all high school students in the United States (along with portions of the Bible, and not just those cherry-picked to avoid shocking and offending persons unfamiliar with its full text).

I have to give you props for being one of the few people I see around these days who actually knows much about Paine, has read his works, and gives him the respect he is so dearly due. Thumbs up--I wish more people read him, especially for his political opinions.

As an aside, Thomas Edison makes a great argument for Paine: http://www.thomaspai...bio/edison.html

It's an essay I always loved on Paine.