The Age of Reason
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Summary
The reason Paine advocates is precisely a scarce resource in human society, and people need to be alert to it whether in the past, today, or the future. As Paine says at the beginning of the book: "Reason is the most effective weapon for solving all problems. I have never tried, and never will try, any other method." On the basis of deism, Paine exposes the absurdity of the so-called "revelation" claimed by religions of every kind. He holds that "the world itself is revelation, and all things in the universe are the word of God"; God exists as an impersonal first cause and cannot govern nature or social life. Paine exposes three means by which religion deceives humanity: mystery, miracle, and prophecy, and points out that all absurd and bizarre religions arise only after humanity abandons the role of reason.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the Enlightenment and the intellectual history of religious criticism
- Philosophy enthusiasts who want to understand the basic arguments of deism
- University students needing material for comparative reading in intellectual history
- Deep readers who enjoy polemical writing and are willing to examine arguments
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking gentle spiritual guidance or devotional content
- People sensitive to religious topics who prefer to avoid sharp criticism
- Readers who want light narrative and are unused to argumentative prose
Reading tips
- Read the opening claims about reason first to grasp the author's basic position before the detailed chapters.
- As you read, distinguish Paine's arguments against the controversies of his time from general questions still open to discussion today.
- Read alongside background on the Enlightenment or an introduction to philosophy of religion; do not read it in isolation.
- You need not accept every argumentative detail; note as you read which arguments you agree and disagree with.
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 原书编者按
- 第一部
- 第一章 我的信仰自白
- 第二章 论使命与启示
- 第三章 论耶稣基督及其生平
- 第四章 论基督教创立的根基
- 第五章 再论基督教创立的根基
- 第六章 论真正的神学
- 第七章 论《旧约全书》
- 第八章 论《新约全书》
- 第九章 何处存在真正的启示
- 第十章 论上帝以及《圣经》对上帝存在及其属性的阐释
- 第十一章 论基督教神学与真正的神学
- 第十二章 论基督教教义对教育的影响以及改革建议
- 第十三章 论基督教教义与自然启迪下的宗教思想之对比
- 第十四章 宇宙体系
- 第十五章 论多层次天体系统之裨益
- 第十六章 论天体系统之于基督教教义
- 第十七章 论长久以来教会普遍使用的欺人手段
- 扼要重述
- 第二部
- 前言
- 第一章 论《旧约全书》
- 第二章 论《新约全书》
- 结语
FAQ
Does this book completely deny religion?
Can I read it without knowing the Bible?
Is it suitable as an introduction to religion?
Why read this polemic today?
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About the author
Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was an English-born American writer, political pamphleteer and thinker, with 11 works available on this site. He went to North America in 1774 and in 1776 published Common Sense, which argued for independence and deeply influenced the American Revolution; during the war he wrote the American Crisis series to boost morale. He later wrote Rights of Man, defending the French Revolution and republicanism, and was consequently wanted in Britain; The Age of Reason set out his deist views. His works, known for political argument, philosophy and literature, are direct and forceful in style and are classified under politics, foreign literature, philosophy and psychology. He returned to America in 1802 and died in poverty in New York in 1809.
Luo Na is an author about whom little public information is available. Her works span a notably wide range of subjects, covering psychology, foreign literature, philosophy, and computer science. She has published five titles, including the psychology work The Human Heart: The Aptitude for Good and Evil, which explores the good and evil sides of human nature, and The Thomas Paine Trilogy and The Age of Reason, works related to Paine's thought, as well as Reward and Punishment and the computer textbook Access 2010 Database Technology and Applications (Micro-Lecture Edition, 2nd Edition). This list suggests that her writing combines humanistic reflection with technical application, addressing philosophical questions of human nature, reason, and justice while also engaging in the teaching of database technology. Because biographical details are unavailable, her nationality, education, and personal history cannot be confirmed; readers can chiefly come to know her interests and editorial style through the works listed above.
