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The Writings of Thomas Paine — Volume 4 (1794-1796): The Age of Reason

Chapter 5: (1796)
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About This Book

The author mounts a sustained, rational examination of revealed religion, inspecting the Old and New Testaments to challenge claims of supernatural revelation and miracles and to expose contradictions and human authorship. He argues that true religion should rest on reason and the observable laws of nature rather than clerical authority, proposes reforms in education to emphasize practical and scientific knowledge, and offers a natural theology that deduces God's existence from the universe. Discussions extend to cosmology and the folly of priestly deception, concluding with a recapitulation and a call to return to simple, reasoned faith.

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Title: The Writings of Thomas Paine — Volume 4 (1794-1796): The Age of Reason

Author: Thomas Paine

Editor: Moncure Daniel Conway

Release date: February 1, 2003 [eBook #3743]
Most recently updated: March 20, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Norman M. Wolcott and David Widger

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRITINGS OF THOMAS PAINE — VOLUME 4 (1794-1796): THE AGE OF REASON ***

The Writings of Thomas Paine

The Age of Reason — Part I and II

by Thomas Paine

Collected And Edited By Moncure Daniel Conway

VOLUME IV.

(1796)


Contents

EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION

THE AGE OF REASON — PART I
CHAPTER I. THE AUTHOR’S PROFESSION OF FAITH
CHAPTER II. OF MISSIONS AND REVELATIONS
CHAPTER III. CONCERNING THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST, AND HIS HISTORY
CHAPTER IV. OF THE BASES OF CHRISTIANITY
CHAPTER V. EXAMINATION IN DETAIL OF THE PRECEDING BASES
CHAPTER VI. OF THE TRUE THEOLOGY
CHAPTER VII. EXAMINATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
CHAPTER VIII. OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
CHAPTER IX. IN WHAT THE TRUE REVELATION CONSISTS
CHAPTER X. CONCERNING GOD, AND THE LIGHTS CAST ON HIS EXISTENCE AND ATTRIBUTES BY THE BIBLE
CHAPTER XI. OF THE THEOLOGY OF THE CHRISTIANS; AND THE TRUE THEOLOGY
CHAPTER XII. THE EFFECTS OF CHRISTIANISM ON EDUCATION; PROPOSED REFORMS
CHAPTER XIII. COMPARISON OF CHRISTIANISM WITH THE RELIGIOUS IDEAS INSPIRED BY NATURE
CHAPTER XIV. SYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSE
CHAPTER XV. ADVANTAGES OF THE EXISTENCE OF MANY WORLDS IN EACH SOLAR SYSTEM
CHAPTER XVI. APPLICATION OF THE PRECEDING TO THE SYSTEM OF THE CHRISTIANS
CHAPTER XVII. OF THE MEANS EMPLOYED IN ALL TIME, AND ALMOST UNIVERSALLY, TO DECEIVE THE PEOPLES
RECAPITULATION

THE AGE OF REASON — PART II
PREFACE
CHAPTER I. THE OLD TESTAMENT
CHAPTER II. THE NEW TESTAMENT
CHAPTER III. CONCLUSION