The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology is a thought-provoking pamphlet penned by the revolutionary Thomas Paine, who played a pivotal role in both British and American history. This groundbreaking work confronts institutionalized religion and questions the legitimacy of the Bible, the cornerstone of Christianity. Originally published in three parts between 1794 and 1807, it quickly became a bestseller in the United States, sparking a brief revival of Deism. In Part 1, written in 1793, Paine boldly critiques the ideas of divine revelation and inspiration, urging readers to prioritize reason over faith. Part 2, crafted during his imprisonment in France in 1794, dissects the Bibles reliability, highlighting its numerous contradictions and absurdities. Meanwhile, Part 3, completed around 1800 but published only in 1807 due to fears of backlash, examines and dismisses the prophetic claims surrounding Jesus Christ. While educated elites were familiar with these arguments, Paines accessible and irreverent prose made his ideas resonate with a broader audience. Advocating for a Deistic understanding of religion and a Creator of Reason, Paines work remains a significant commentary on faith and reason. This LibriVox recording is derived from Richard Carlile’s 1818 anthology of Paine’s writings, which faced significant legal challenges, leading to Carliles conviction for blasphemy and seditious libel in 1819. The controversies surrounding The Age of Reason lingered for decades, impacting numerous publishers and booksellers. (Summary by JoeD and Wikipedia)
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Feb 14 20269 mins