Part First, Section 11

The Age of Reason

by Thomas PAINE (1737 - 1809)

The Age of Reason: Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology, a deistic treatise written by eighteenth-century British radical and American revolutionary Thomas Paine, critiques institutionalized religion and challenges the inerrancy of the Bible. Published in three parts in 1794, 1795, and 1807, it was a bestseller in America, where it caused a short-lived deistic revival. British audiences, however, fearing increased political radicalism as a result of the French revolution, received it with more hostility. The Age of Reason presents common deistic arguments; for example, it highlights the corruption of the Christian Church and criticizes its efforts to acquire political power. Paine advocates reason in the place of revelation, leading him to reject miracles and to view the Bible as an ordinary piece of literature rather than as a divinely-inspired text. Yet, The Age of Reason is not atheistic: it promotes natural religion and argues for a creator-God. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Listen next episodes of The Age of Reason:
Part First, Section 12 , Part First, Section 13 , Part First, Section 14 , Part First, Section 15 , Part Second, Preface , Part Second, Section 10 , Part Second, Section 11 , Part Second, Section 12 , Part Second, Section 13 , Part Second, Section 14 , Part Second, Section 15 , Part Second, Section 16 , Part Second, Section 17 , Part Second, Section 18 , Part Second, Section 19 , Part Second, Section 20 , Part Second, Section 21 , Part Second, Section 3 , Part Second, Section 4 , Part Second, Section 5 , Part Second, Section 6 , Part Second, Section 7 , Part Second, Section 8 , Part Second, Section 9 , Part Second, Sections 1 & 2