Age of Reason
Thomas Paine went on discussing that these different religions have their own take on the word of God, from angels to divine intervention to Moses, which have diverse beliefs on the teachings and even questions each others principles. He points out the inconsistencies in the writings of the word of God in these various churches that mislead peoples view on what really is the truth. Paine believed that when the word revelation is applied, it depicts that there is a direct communication between man and God. He doesnt question the capabilities of God and how God can communicate with mankind if he wishes to, but query in hand is, as revelation is a direct statement to one person, the revelation only pertains to that person. When that person passes the information to the next person and the person after that and so on, it is not a revelation anymore to the second, third, fourth individual. It is now considered as hearsay information as it was just passed on and may have been edited at some point of the communication. Thomas Paine regards revelation as something that cannot be invented by human mind and impossible to modify.
He continued to talk about the makings of the scripture and how it was formulated, causing queries on the credibility of information. The discussion about how creation, religion and God are connected to different aspect of being arises. Through astronomy, science and theology, it manifests that the study is not about God alone anymore, but instead focus on the writings of mankinds understanding about the matter. He urges people to rely not only to the writings of the revelation but have conscious logical reason before taking things to heart.
He also expressed his doubts on how the Christians have altered the innocence of the theology, opening it to a field of fallacy. He pointed out the hypocrisy of the beliefs and the morality of principles, stating that many churches and its goers exhibit a pretentious behavior that is inconsistent with the teachings that they preach. They yield to deceitfulness for the sake of personal satisfaction, forgetting the ethics for their church and religion. The hunger for power and the urge of corruption lead the Christians to be a questionable morality model.
Other preachers convey the message that if they believe in Christ, sins are pardoned, freeing them from guilt. In turn, this encourages the followers to succumb to sin, since they were convinced that such belief will save them from condemnation. They also state that God has pre-selected those who will be saved and those who will be damned in the future which brings a message of uncertainty and doubt to a persons being. Paine clearly viewed this preaching as misleading and prejudiced.
Also included in part (2) two of his writings, depicts the content of the bible and questions the purity of the scripture. He doubts the integrity of the information, since it wasnt clearly presented who the real source of the content of the bible. There is no direct proof of the writer or that it even exist. He was also skeptic with the accuracy of information and content of the book, specifically the content of the Old and the New Testament, being falsified due to its history of malice. Paine was convinced that this was a man-made myth and not exactly from Almighty itself.
He goes on to conclude that the creation is the scripture of deist, that all the testaments and writings of other bibles are fraudulent and merely forgeries. The content of the testaments, like the stories, fables and obscure writings, only confuses the masses more on the accuracy of beliefs and teachings and move towards the weakening belief in God. The contradictions of the writings and the preaching only proves that people are being mislead into a pool of confusion on which and where to position their morality and their principles.
He clearly voiced out his remorse to Christianity and its hypocrisy to the morality and it points as an insult to God. He views that the Christian church is a study of nothing and lacks knowledge about the creator. Paine also attests to his beliefs in Deism, where when a man emphasized fully his belief on God, his principles and morality will seek towards that belief and in turn would not do the things that might contradict that belief. He urges that the Bible of Creation is the only viable foundation of principles and should be the basis of Theology.
He also compared religion to science, not knowing the Creator itself but by the work He has done. He pointed out that The creator of man is the creator of science, that in this belief its like knowing the creator as if in person. True enough, other religions create their own beliefs, that they have created stories that contradict and disparage the true identity of God.
He closed the writing with a message that every person has the right to believe what he thinks is just. Whatever he said in this essay can be interpreted in many levels and leaves the conclusion to the readers imagination. Paine believes that opinions are free, not just in religion or government, but in general. He points that at the end of everything, the truth will always prevail.
Analysis and Reaction
Thomas Paine clearly voiced his investigation, comprehensions, hesitations and disbeliefs of some details of various religions that have been around for decades. Focusing on the content of the bible, he elaborated the inconsistency he strongly believed that makes the context questionable and unreliable.
Various religions that now exist in our society have different beliefs and extent of faith that brings confusion on where to place ourselves in terms of morality. Thomas Paine believes there is one God, and with the scriptures brought to light, he doesnt approve the methods of specific religions. People around the world have practiced the right to choose and the freedom of choice, especially with regards to religion. Paine pointed out the contradictions of the Christian teachings and how one can preach morality and act inappropriately.
He strongly believed that there is one God alone and that there shouldnt be a representation of God for this only put conflict to the belief. In his other writing, Common Sense, he discussed that when the Jews created a King for their people, it produced a window for sin. Paine stated
In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings the consequence of which was there were no wars it is the pride of kings which throw mankind into confusion.
There should only be one God ruling mankind, but when man is placed in the position to rule his fellow being, is a severe offense.
Religion has been a long lived sensitive matter for any being, and to be questioned on its credibility can create a mass of argument. During the period, where Paine released the Age of reason to America, it opened a whole new argument in the revolution. Some have viewed Paine as an atheist but later on was accepted as a bold awakening for social control. We see how religion and government are connected but at the same time created conflict.
As what he state in Common Sense, he argued that monarchy originated by sin. Like what he mentioned about the Christian beliefs, that constitutes head and high priest as their guidance, it is more evident to succumb to sin because of the power of position that it holds. Therefore, it contradicts the principles of following the acts of honesty and purity, when corruption is apparent. Paine has despised how the Christians use the position as a means of gaining control to what people should think and follow, deceiving them of their acts of injustice and deceit.
He was opposed to the idea of monarchy in the government as he views this as inequality of the people and hinders them to practice their rights of man. He believes in the equality of man and each deserves this privilege. Although he didnt imply that he doesnt believe in Jesus Christ, but how the Christ was represented like one of us and dying for our sins is quite confusing to Paine. He questioned the totality and accuracy of stories of the Old and New Testament and how they were conceived to be true. He knew soon enough that after he wrote Common Sense and it tackled the issues in the revolution and the structure of its government, he will continue on tackling the religion and how it has a great impact in the government.
I may not agree completely to what he believes is factual and how he discuss the discrepancy of the bibles content, but I can see the idea behind the writing. It may dawn on you at the beginning that he is a cynic when it comes to the teachings of the churches, but when you have fully read the elaborations and explanation you see a glimpse of a possibility that it might be true. We may have our differences in beliefs and teachings, we may choose to follow or work against it, the bottom line still exist that our right of choice still prevails. I dont feel that he is totally encouraging readers to change their minds about the religion that they are into, but it is more of the intake of the message he wishes to put across.
Regardless of what religion we belong to or believe in, we must never forget the true essence of what that religion represents. There may have contradictions to Thomas Paines views, his choice of words may come as a shock to some and the expansion of his views to the parts of the Bible may be too vulgar and unseemly, but he is practicing his rights to free expression. He could have used a lighter and more wholesome take to it, as not to create a conclusion that he despises what these religion has reveal. A more subtle approach on the discussion can probably persuade the readers more to take a second look at the things that we see and may believe.
He may have taken the context too literally that created a whole new argument to the matter. For some, people say that when you read the bible, each person has different understanding, take or reflection to it and it depends on the person that is reading the verses, how she sees between the lines. I have nothing against Paines writing, like he has nothing against the religions and what their beliefs may be. He just wrote what he feels deemed necessary to open the minds of the people about the probable deceptions these teachings convey.
Religion did play a huge part in our history. It is one of the catalyst that created what the government and law is following now. Age of reason is a powerful essay of belief, principles and conviction. Some may not understand what the writing is trying to tell us, and some may be offended as well, but it serves to open our minds of other possibilities rather than sticking to one detail. Age of reason may not only talk about religion and its effects to the society, it also encourages readers to think outside the box.
There are instances in the essay that clearly batters the writings of the bible. Its an ongoing argument that may never be resolved, for in our current generation, there will always come a Thomas Paine in our midst that will raise questions to matters like this. His methods may be wrong in some ways but I do believe his intentions were true.
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