Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Amazing how many of us today echo his observations whether we know it or not. Love his book, Age of Reason.
Absolutely! I was very amazed to find that doubt, skepticism, and unbelief have such a rich history. Nobody every tells you this in sunday school or comparative religion classes. Jenifer Michael Hecht's book, "Doubt: a history" is a really good read for anyone who want to understand the history and foundation upon which our unbelief stands, whether we know it or not.
Paine was a brilliant thinker and a very important part of American History, but was almost blotted out of memory for the crime of 'atheism', which wasn't even accurate. Many of his arguments against religion are very familiar, often still valid after all these years. Age of Reason is definitely a good read.
"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."
Kind of... using the Julian calendar (which was then used in Great Britain (where he was born) and its colonies. By the Gregorian calender which we currently use, he was born on February 9.
All that aside, it is worth remember that outspoken disbelief during his time was certainly a courageous act, coming with more consequences than it does today.
...as we sit in front of our computer screens and rail about the tyranical government with little consequences to us...paine put it all on the line, as did the men and women who kissed their loved ones goodbye, leaving spouses, children, farm and livelyhood behind, knowing full well if not victory, death in battle or by hanging if captured, was the only outcome....because they believed in the cause
that my friends...took some balls to do!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
