"The only religion that has not been invented, and that has in it every evidence of divine originality, is pure and simple deism." - Thomas Paine (The Age of Reason)
In his hypocrisy, Mr. Paine maligns all other religions in favor of his own. His distaste of Christianity is thus understood, for it above all others refutes Paine's deism. The prospect of reading his work "The Age of Reason" and critiquing it was a project I have desired for some time. However, I must say it turned out to be a most laborious effort and the rewards most limited. I found him repetitive and redundant. For the most part, his Chapter one could have been omitted altogether and the work consisted of the so-called second chapter and his subject would have been as well covered.
Very few of his assertions and arguments were worth refuting, most were simply nonsense derived from his imagination or his absurd interpretations of the text. Though his arguments came from the position of his own religion of deism, they were common arguments of atheists and pagan philosophers.
The scholarly consensus of Tacitus' reference to the execution of Jesus by Pontius Pilate is both authentic and of historical value as an independent Roman source. Paul Eddy and Gregory Boyd argue that it is "firmly established" that Tacitus provides a non-Christian confirmation of the crucifixion of Jesus. Scholars view it as establishing three separate facts about Rome around AD 60: 1st, there were a sizable number of Christians in Rome at the time, 2nd, it was possible to distinguish between Christians and Jews in Rome, and 3rd, the pagans made a connection between Christianity in Rome and its origin in Roman Judea. Not only do we find Tacitus confirms the existence of Christianity, but he also confirms that even from the beginning there were men who were greatly offended by such beliefs and went to no ends to malign its teachings.
"But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. . . . Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed." - Tacitus (The Annals)
Paine's work is nothing new, he joins himself with a vast history of critics. Criticism of Christianity has a long history that stretches back to the initial formation of the religion during the Roman Empire. Critics have challenged Christian beliefs and teachings as well as Christian actions, from the Crusades to modern terrorism. The intellectual arguments against Christianity include the suppositions that it is a faith of violence, corruption, superstition, polytheism, bigotry, pontification, women's rights, and abuses, and sectarianism which all fall very neatly into Paine's philosophy.
Neoplatonic philosopher Porphyry emerged as one of the major critics with his book "Against the Christians". Porphyry argued that Christianity was based on false prophecies that had not yet materialized. You could say Paine's arguments were quite old!
Paine joins major thinkers and philosophers, such as Voltaire, David Hume, and the Baron d'Holbach who's central themes sought to negate the historical accuracy of the Christian Bible and focused on the perceived corruption of Christian religious authorities. Mr. Paine accomplishes nothing in his work but joins himself to a vast number of other critics whose works have also come and gone with history.
As related earlier, it was impossible as well as impractical for me to address each critical aspect of Paine's work or I would be spending months on this single subject. However, this series of posts should suffice to give one a gest of his attitude and purpose. I will post a link below to both his work and a more complete critique that covers most of his fictitious arguments. Also, it would be advisable to read (The Age of Revelation) by Elias Boudinot along with Paine's work. Boudinot was a contemporary of Paine and his work was to refute Paine's during his time.
Thomas Paine (The Age of Reason)
May the Grace of God be with each of you,
David
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