Analysis Of The Age Of Reason By Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine, 18th century author of the popular papers entitled The American Crisis, was a devout Deist who, after the Revolutionary War, was questioned about his religion and so wrote The Age of Reason as a response. In many of his writings, Paine would make his writing appear Christian, but he, however, did not believe that, as he explained in The Age of Reason. In this work, Paine shows his antagonism and distaste of all religions, with Christianity being first and foremost. In his writing The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine revealed his true convictions and opinions on all religions. Thomas Paine denied and rejected the truth of Christ by using his earthly reason to understand the supernatural. Denying the Deity of Christ, Paine stated,
“the history of him (Jesus) is altogether the work of other people; and as to the account given of his resurrection and ascension, it was a necessary counterpart to the story of his birth.” This shows Paine’s disagreement and, therefore, rejection of the gospel message. He did identify Jesus as a good man, but nothing more. Paine also stated that he had as much right to doubt the Resurrection as Thomas the Apostle. Paine denied the gospel by rejecting Christ as the Savior from sin.
Paine also shows Deistic views.