The Age of Reason (Writings of Thomas Paine, #4) (Cambridge Library Collection - Philosophy) (Cosimo Classics History)

by Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine, defender of freedom, independence, and rational common sense during America's turbulent revolutionary period, offers insights into religion which ring sharply true more than two centuries later. This unabridged edition of The Age of Reason sets forth Paine's provocative observations on the place of religion in society.

• ISBN10: 1595479104
• ISBN13: 9781595479105
• Publish Date: 25 April 2007 (first published 1 January 1957)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: NuVision Publications
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 180
• Language: English

Reviews

[jamiereadthis]

Thomas Paine plays the ace and brings the house of cards down: the wizard behind the curtain is dead, the emperor has no clothes.

Don’t be mistaken, this would be shocking if it were written today. But no, incredibly, this was the eighteenth century, before modern scholarship, in the depths of scientific anthropocentrism and Biblical literalism. “If only,” 200 years later, with what we now know— but here’s America, trying to write Thomas Paine out of history books and cover up the trace.

Here’s the kicker, though: it’s split to Part I and Part II due to Paine’s imprisonment during the French Revolution. The Age of Reason was both his urgent final words and his urgent first.

Lest I just start repeating praises that have already been sung, here’s the review that nails the home run.