The Age of Reason

The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine (1794-1807)

Thomas Paine's explosive attack on organized religion and defense of deism — the belief in God through reason and nature rather than scripture and clergy. The book that made Paine the most hated man in America.

Historical Significance:
Paine wrote The Age of Reason while imprisoned in Paris during the French Revolution's Terror — he narrowly escaped the guillotine when the chalk mark on his cell door was accidentally placed on the wrong side. Published in three parts (1794, 1795, 1807), the book systematically challenged the Bible's claims to divine authorship, pointing out contradictions, historical errors, and moral problems.

The backlash was immediate and devastating. Paine, who had been a hero of the American Revolution for writing Common Sense, was vilified as an atheist (he wasn't — he believed in God, just not in organized religion). Theodore Roosevelt called him "a filthy little atheist." Paine died in poverty in 1809, with only six people attending his funeral. History has been kinder — The Age of Reason is now recognized as a foundational text of religious skepticism and freethought.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1794. Free to read and share.