description:  An idealist, radical &amp; master rhetorician, Thomas Paine wrote &amp; lived with a keen sense of urgent excitement. In The Age of Reason, he declares that all religious traditions are ultimately established for the dependence of humankind. He openly criticizes the Bible &amp; the fallacies contained within, as well as providing a shrewd analysis of Christianity &amp; how it developed from its pagan ancestry--arguments many critics claim carry weight today. He alienated many of his countrymen with his incendiary viewpoints. Forced to leave America for England, he eventually returned to the USA in 1802, tho he remained all but ostracized. He died in poverty in 1809.  Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was an Anglo-American political theorist &amp; writer born in Norfolk, England. In 1774, he emigrated to America, bearing letters of introduction from Benjamin Franklin. Soon thereafter, he became involved in the clashes between England &amp; the American colonies &amp; published the enormously successful pamphlet Common Sense in 1776, which was widely distributed &amp; contributed to the patriot cause throughout the American Revolution.
language: English
title: The Age of Reason
titlecomplete: The Age of Reason
genres: Religion, Politics, Atheism, Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction, Essays, Classics, Theology, History
ratings_count: 8777
publisher: Cosimo Classics