Age of Reason Thomas Paine

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The Age of Reason

by Thomas Paine(1796)ontents

"#itor$s %ntro#uction

Part &ne

hapter % ' he uthor$s Pro*ession &* +aith

hapter %% ' &* ,issions n# -evelations

hapter %%% ' oncerning he haracter o* esus hrist n# 0is

0istory

hapter % ' &* he Bases &* hristianity

hapter ' "2amination %n 3etail &* he Prece#ing Bases

hapter % ' &* he rue heology

hapter %% ' "2amination &* he &l# estament

hapter %%% ' &* he 4e5 estament

hapter % ' %n hat he rue -evelation onsists

hapter ' oncerning 8o# n# he ights ast &n 0is"2istence n# ttributes By he Bible

hapter % ' &* he heology &* he hristians n# he rue

heology

hapter %% ' he "**ects &* hristianism &n "#ucation

Propose# -e*orms

hapter %%% ' omparison &* hristianism ith he -eligious1

%#eas %nspire# By 4ature

hapter % ' ;ystem &* he


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he hristians

hapter %% ' &* he ,eans "mploye# %n ll ime n#

lmost


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national representation. his boo> 5as 5ritten by the author in the

beginning o* the year $9= (ol# style). % un#ertoo> its translation

be*ore the revolution against priests an# it 5as publishe# in

+rench about the same time. outhon to 5hom % sent it seeme#

o**en#e# 5ith me *or having translate# this 5or>.@ to outhon 5oul# appear to

be the latter part o* ,arch 179= the *ury against the priesthoo#

having reache# its clima2 in the #ecrees against them o* ,arch 19

an# A6. %* the moral #e*ormity o* outhon even greater than that

o* his bo#y be remembere# an# the rea#iness 5ith 5hich #eath

5as in*licte# *or the most theoretical opinion not approve# by the

@,ountain@ it 5ill appear probable that the o**ence given outhonby Paine$s boo> involve# #anger to him an# his translator. &n ,ay

=1 5hen the 8iron#ins 5ere accuse# the name o* anthenas 5as

inclu#e# an# he barely escape# an# on the same #ay 3anton

persua#e# Paine not to appear in the onvention as his li*e might

be in #anger. hether this 5as because o* the @ge o* -eason@3

5ith its *ling at the @8o##ess 4ature@ or not the statements o*

author an# translator are harmoniIe# by the *act that Paineprepare# the manuscript 5ith consi#erable a##itions an# changes

*or publication in "nglish as he has state# in the Pre*ace to Part %%.

comparison o* the +rench an# "nglish versions sentence by

sentence prove# to me that the translation sent by anthenas to

,erlin #e hionville in 179F is the same as that he sent to outhon


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in 179=. his #iscovery 5as the means o* recovering several

interesting sentences o* the original 5or>. % have given as

*ootnotes translations o* such clauses an# phrases o* the +rench

5or> as appeare# to be important. hose *amiliar 5ith the

translations o* anthenas nee# not be remin#e# that he 5as toomuch o* a literalist to #epart *rom the manuscript be*ore him an#

in#ee# he #i# not even venture to alter it in an instance (presently

consi#ere#) 5here it 5as obviously nee#e#. 4or 5oul# anthenas

have omitte# any o* the paragraphs lac>ing in his translation. his

original 5or> 5as #ivi#e# into seventeen chapters an# these %

have restore# translating their hea#ings into "nglish. he @ge o*

-eason@ is thus *or the *irst time given to the 5orl# 5ith nearly itsoriginal completeness.

%t shoul# be remembere# that Paine coul# not have rea# the proo*

o* his @ge o* -eason@ (Part %.) 5hich 5ent through the press

5hile he 5as in prison. o this must be ascribe# the permanence o*

some sentences as abbreviate# in the haste he has #escribe#.

notable instance is the #ropping out o* his estimate o* esus the

5or#s ren#ere# by anthenas @trop peu imite trop oublie tropmeconnu.@ he a##ition o* these 5or#s to Paine$s tribute ma>es it

the more notable that almost the only recognition o* the human

character an# li*e o* esus by any theological 5riter o* that

generation came *rom one long bran#e# as an in*i#el.

o the inability o* the prisoner to give his 5or> any revision must4

be attribute# the preservation in it o* the singular error alrea#y

allu#e# to as one that anthenas but *or his e2treme *i#elity5oul# have correcte#. his is Paine$s repeate# mention o* si2

planets an# enumeration o* them t5elve years a*ter the #iscovery

o*


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any allusion to it convinces me that the astronomical episo#e 5as

printe# *rom a manuscript 5ritten be*ore 171 5hen


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Paine$s theism ho5ever investe# 5ith biblical an# hristian

phraseology 5as a birthright. %t appears clear *rom several

allusions in @he ge o* -eason@ to the Jua>ers that in his early

li*e or be*ore the mi##le o* the eighteenth century the people so

calle# 5ere substantially 3eists. n interesting con*irmation o*Paine$s statements concerning them appears as % 5rite in an

account sent by ount eo olstoi to the on#on $imes$ o* the

-ussian sect calle# 3u>hobortsy (he imes &ctober A= 19E).

his sect sprang up in the last century an# the narrative says:

@he *irst see#s o* the teaching calle# a*ter5ar#s

$3u>hoborches>aya$ 5ere so5n by a *oreigner a Jua>er 5ho

came to -ussia. he *un#amental i#ea o* his Jua>er teaching 5asthat in the soul o* man #5ells 8o# himsel* an# that 0e himsel*

gui#es man by 0is inner 5or#. 8o# lives in nature physically an#

in man$s soul spiritually. o hrist as to an historical personage

the 3u>hobortsy #o not ascribe great importance ... hrist 5as

8o#$s son but only in the sense in 5hich 5e call ourselves $sons

o* 8o#.$ he purpose o* hrist$s su**erings 5as no other than to

sho5 us an e2ample o* su**ering *or truth. he Jua>ers 5ho in11 visite# the 3u>hobortsy coul# not agree 5ith them upon

these religious subCects an# 5hen they hear# *rom them their

opinion about esus hrist (that he 5as a man) e2claime#

$3ar>ness!$ +rom the &l# an# 4e5 estaments$ they say $5e ta>e

only 5hat is use*ul$ mostly the moral teaching. ... he moral i#eas6

o* the 3u>hobortsy are the *ollo5ing: '' ll men are by nature

eDual e2ternal #istinctions 5hatsoever they may be are 5orthnothing. his i#ea o* men$s eDuality the 3u>hoborts have #irecte#

*urther against the ;tate authority. ... mongst themselves they

hol# subor#ination an# much more a monarchical 8overnment to

be contrary to their i#eas.@

0ere is an early 0ic>site Jua>erism carrie# to -ussia long be*ore


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the birth o* "lias 0ic>s 5ho recovere# it *rom Paine to 5hom the

merican Jua>ers re*use# burial among them. lthough Paine

arraigne# the union o* hurch an# ;tate his i#eal -epublic 5as

religious it 5as base# on a conception o* eDuality base# on the

#ivine son'ship o* every man. his *aith un#erlay eDually hisbur#en against claims to #ivine partiality by a @hosen People@ a

Priesthoo# a ,onarch @by the grace o* 8o#@ or an ristocracy.

Paine$s @-eason@ is only an e2pansion o* the Jua>er$s @inner

light@ an# the greater impression as compare# 5ith previous

republican an# #eistic 5ritings ma#e by his @-ights o* ,an@ an#

@ge o* -eason@ (really volumes o* one 5or>) is partly e2plaine#

by the apostolic *ervor 5hich ma#e him a spiritual successor o*8eorge +o2.

Paine$s min# 5as by no means s>eptical it 5as eminently

instructive. hat he shoul# have 5aite# until his *i*ty'seventh year

be*ore publishing his religious convictions 5as #ue to a #esire to

5or> out some positive an# practicable system to ta>e the place o*

that 5hich he believe# 5as crumbling. he "nglish engineer 0all

5ho assiste# Paine in ma>ing the mo#el o* his iron bri#ge 5roteto his *rien#s in "nglan# in 176: @,y employer has ommon

;ense enough to #isbelieve most o* the common systematic

theories o* 3ivinity but #oes not seem to establish any *or

himsel*.@ But *ive years later Paine 5as able to lay the corner'stone

o* his temple: @ith respect to religion itsel* 5ithout regar# to7

names an# as #irecting itsel* *rom the universal *amily o* man>in#

to the $3ivine obCect o* all a#oration it is man bringing to his,a>er the *ruits o* his heart an# though those *ruits may #i**er

*rom each other li>e the *ruits o* the earth the grate*ul tribute o*

every one is accepte#.@ (@-ights o* ,an.@ ;ee my e#ition o*

Paine$s ritings ii. p. =A6.) 0ere 5e have a reappearance o*

8eorge +o2 con*uting the #octor in merica 5ho @#enie# the light


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an# ;pirit o* 8o# to be in every one an# a**irme# that it 5as not

in the %n#ians. hereupon % calle# an %n#ian to us an# as>e# him

$5hether or not 5hen he lie# or #i# 5rong to anyone there 5as

not something in him that reprove# him *or itK$ 0e sai# $here 5as

such a thing in him that #i# so reprove him an# he 5as ashame#5hen he ha# #one 5rong or spo>en 5rong.$ ;o 5e shame# the

#octor be*ore the governor an# the people.@ (ournal o* 8eorge

+o2 ;eptember 167A.)

Paine 5ho coine# the phrase @-eligion o* 0umanity (he risis

vii. 177) #i# but logically #e*en# it in @he ge o* -eason@ by

#enying a special revelation to any particular tribe or #ivine

authority in any particular cree# o* church an# the centenary o*this much'abuse# publication has been celebrate# by a great

conservative champion o* hurch an# ;tate ,r. Bal*our 5ho in

his @+oun#ations o* Belie*@ a**irms that @inspiration@ cannot be

#enie# to the great &riental teachers unless grapes may be

gathere# *rom thorns.

he centenary o* the complete publication o* @he ge o*

-eason@ (&ctober AE 179E) 5as also celebrate# at the hurchongress 4or5ich on &ctober 1L 19E 5hen Pro*essor Bonney

+.-.;. anon o* ,anchester rea# a paper in 5hich he sai#: @%

cannot #eny that the increase o* scienti*ic >no5le#ge has #eprive#

parts o* the earlier boo>s o* the Bible o* the historical value 5hich

5as generally attribute# to them by our *ore*athers. he story o*8

reation in the Boo> o* 8enesis unless 5e play *ast an# loose

either 5ith 5or#s or 5ith science cannot be brought into harmony5ith 5hat 5e have learnt *rom geology. %ts ethnological statements

are imper*ect i* not sometimes inaccurate. he stories o* the +all

o* the +loo# an# o* the o5er o* Babel are incre#ible in their

present *orm. ;ome historical element may un#erlie many o* the

tra#itions in the *irst eleven chapters in that boo> but this 5e


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cannot hope to recover.@ anon Bonney procee#e# to say o* the

4e5 estament also that the 8ospels are not so *ar as 5e >no5

strictly contemporaneous recor#s so 5e must a#mit the possibility

o* variations an# even inaccuracies in #etails being intro#uce# by

oral tra#ition.@ he anon thin>s the interval too short *or theseimportations to be serious but that any Duestion o* this >in# is le*t

open proves the ge o* -eason *ully upon us. -eason alone can

#etermine ho5 many te2ts are as spurious as the three heavenly

5itnesses (i ohn v. 7) an# li>e it @serious@ enough to have cost

goo# men their lives an# persecutors their charities. hen men

interpolate it is because they believe their interpolation seriously

nee#e#. %t 5ill be seen by a note in Part %%. o* the 5or> that Painecalls attention to an interpolation intro#uce# into the *irst

merican e#ition 5ithout in#ication o* its being an e#itorial

*ootnote. his *ootnote 5as: @he boo> o* u>e 5as carrie# by a

maCority o* one only. i#e ,oshelm$s "cc. 0istory.@ 3r. Priestley

then in merica ans5ere# Paine$s 5or> an# in Duoting less than a

page *rom the @ge o* -eason@ he ma#e three alterations '' one o*

5hich change# @church mythologists@ into @hristianmythologists@ '' an# also raise# the e#itorial *ootnote into the te2t

omitting the re*erence to ,osheim. 0aving #one this Priestley

5rites: @s to the gospel o* u>e being carrie# by a maCority o*

one only it is a legen# i* not o* ,r. Paine$s o5n invention o* no

better authority 5hatever.@ n# so on 5ith *urther castigation o*9

the author *or 5hat he never 5rote an# 5hich he himsel*

(Priestley) 5as the unconscious means o* intro#ucing into the te2t5ithin the year o* Paine$s publication.

%* this coul# be #one unintentionally by a conscientious an# e2act

man an# one not un*rien#ly to Paine i* such a 5riter as Priestley

coul# ma>e *our mista>es in citing hal* a page it 5ill appear not

very 5on#er*ul 5hen % state that in a mo#ern popular e#ition o*


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@he ge o* -eason@ inclu#ing both parts % have note# about *ive

hun#re# #eviations *rom the original. hese 5ere mainly the

accumulate# e**orts o* *rien#ly e#itors to improve Paine$s grammar

or spelling some 5ere misprints or #evelope# out o* such an#

some resulte# *rom the sale in on#on o* a copy o* Part ;econ#surreptitiously ma#e *rom the manuscript. hese *acts a##

signi*icance to Paine$s *ootnote (itsel* altere# in some e#itions!) in

5hich he says: @%* this has happene# 5ithin such a short space o*

time not5ithstan#ing the ai# o* printing 5hich prevents the

alteration o* copies in#ivi#ually 5hat may not have happene# in a

much greater length o* time 5hen there 5as no printing an# 5hen

any man 5ho coul# 5rite coul# ma>e a 5ritten copy an# call it anoriginal by ,atthe5 ,ar> u>e or ohn.

4othing appears to me more stri>ing as an illustration o* the

*arreaching

e**ects o* tra#itional preCu#ice than the errors into 5hich

some o* our ablest contemporary scholars have *allen by reason o*

their not having stu#ie# Paine. Pro*essor 0u2ley *or instance

spea>ing o* the *reethin>ers o* the eighteenth century a#mires theacuteness common sense 5it an# the broa# humanity o* the best

o* them but says @there is rarely much to be sai# *or their 5or> as

an e2ample o* the a#eDuate treatment o* a grave an# #i**icult

investigation@ an# that they share# 5ith their a#versaries @to the

*ull the *atal 5ea>ness o* a priori philosophiIing.@ G4&":

;cience

an# hristian ra#ition p. 1 (on. e#. 19F).H Pro*essor 0u2ley10

#oes not name Paine evi#ently because he >no5s nothing about

him. Met Paine represents the turning'point o* the historical

*reethin>ing movement he renounce# the $a priori$ metho# re*use#

to pronounce anything impossible outsi#e pure mathematics reste#

everything on evi#ence an# really *oun#e# the 0u2leyan school.


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0e plagiariIe# by anticipation many things *rom the rationalistic

lea#ers o* our time *rom ;trauss an# Baur (being the *irst to

e2patiate on @hristian ,ythology@) *rom -enan (being the *irst

to attempt recovery o* the human esus) an# notably *rom 0u2ley

5ho has repeate# Paine$s arguments on the untrust5orthiness o*the biblical manuscripts an# canon on the inconsistencies o* the

narratives o* hrist$s resurrection an# various other points. 4one

can be more loyal to the memory o* 0u2ley than the present

5riter an# it is even because o* my sense o* his gran# lea#ership

that he is here mentione# as a typical instance o* the e2tent to

5hich the very elect o* *ree'thought may be unconsciously

victimiIe# by the phantasm 5ith 5hich they are conten#ing. 0esays that Butler overthre5 *reethin>ers o* the eighteenth century

type but Paine 5as o* the nineteenth century type an# it 5as

precisely because o* his critical metho# that he e2cite# more

animosity than his #eistical pre#ecessors. 0e compelle# the

apologists to #e*en# the biblical narratives in #etail an# thus

implicitly ac>no5le#ge the tribunal o* reason an# >no5le#ge to

5hich they 5ere summone#. he ultimate ans5er by police 5as acon*ession o* Cu#gment. hun#re# years ago "nglan# 5as

suppressing Paine$s 5or>s an# many an honest "nglishman has

gone to prison *or printing an# circulating his @ge o* -eason.@

he same vie5s are no5 *reely e2presse# they are hear# in the

seats o* learning an# even in the hurch ongress but the

suppression o* Paine begun by bigotry an# ignorance is continue#

in the long in#i**erence o* the representatives o* our ge o*11

-eason to their pioneer an# *oun#er. %t is a grievous loss to them

an# to their cause. %t is impossible to un#erstan# the religious

history o* "nglan# an# o* merica 5ithout stu#ying the phases o*

their evolution represente# in the 5ritings o* homas Paine in the

controversies that gre5 out o* them 5ith such practical


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accompaniments as the *oun#ation o* the heophilanthropist

hurch in Paris an# 4e5 Mor> an# o* the great rationalist 5ing o*

Jua>erism in merica.

hatever may be the case 5ith scholars in our time those o*

Paine$s time too> the @ge o* -eason@ very seriously in#ee#.Beginning 5ith the learne# 3r. -ichar# atson Bishop o*

lan#a** a large number o* learne# men replie# to Paine$s 5or>

an# it became a signal *or the commencement o* those

concessions on the part o* theology 5hich have continue# to our

time an# in#ee# the so'calle# @Broa# hurch@ is to some e2tent an

outcome o* @he ge o* -eason.@ %t 5oul# too much enlarge this

%ntro#uction to cite here the replies ma#e to Paine (thirty'si2 arecatalogue# in the British ,useum) but it may be remar>e# that

they 5ere notably *ree as a rule *rom the personalities that rage#

in the pulpits. % must venture to Duote one passage *rom his very

learne# antagonist the -ev. 8ilbert a>e*iel# B.. @late +ello5

o* esus ollege ambri#ge.@ a>e*iel# 5ho ha# resi#e# in

on#on #uring all the Paine panic an# 5as 5ell acDuainte# 5ith

the slan#ers uttere# against the author o* @-ights o* ,an@in#irectly bran#s them in ans5ering Paine$s argument that the

original an# tra#itional unbelie* o* the e5s among 5hom the

allege# miracles 5ere 5rought is an important evi#ence against

them. he learne# #ivine 5rites:

@But the subCect be*ore us a#mits o* *urther illustration *rom the

e2ample o* ,r. Paine himsel*. %n this country 5here his

opposition to the corruptions o* government has raise# him so12

many a#versaries an# such a s5arm o* unprinciple# hirelings have

e2erte# themselves in blac>ening his character an# in

misrepresenting all the transactions an# inci#ents o* his li*e 5ill it

not be a most #i**icult nay an impossible tas> *or posterity a*ter a

lapse o* 17LL years i* such a 5rec> o* mo#ern literature as that o*


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the ancient shoul# intervene to i#enti*y the real circumstances

moral an# civil o* the manK n# 5ill a true historian such as the

"vangelists be cre#ite# at that *uture perio# against such a

pre#ominant incre#ulity 5ithout large an# mighty accessions o*

collateral attestationK n# ho5 transcen#ently e2traor#inary % ha#almost sai# miraculous 5ill it be estimate# by can#i# an#

reasonable min#s that a 5riter 5hose obCect 5as a melioration o*

con#ition to the common people an# their #eliverance *rom

oppression poverty 5retche#ness to the numberless blessings o*

upright an# eDual government shoul# be revile# persecute# an#

burne# in e**igy 5ith every circumstance o* insult an# e2ecration

by these very obCects o* his benevolent intentions in every cornero* the >ing#omK@ *ter the e2ecution o* ouis %. *or 5hose li*e

Paine plea#e# so earnestly '' 5hile in "nglan# he 5as #enounce#

as an accomplice in the #ee# '' he #evote# himsel* to the

preparation o* a onstitution an# also to gathering up his religious

compositions an# a##ing to them. his manuscript % suppose to

have been prepare# in 5hat 5as variously >no5n as hite$s 0otel

or Phila#elphia 0ouse in Paris 4o. 7 Passage #es Petits Peres.his compilation o* early an# *resh manuscripts (i* my theory be

correct) 5as labelle# @he ge o* -eason@ an# given *or

translation to +rancois anthenas in ,arch 179=. %t is entere# in

Ju#rar# (a +rance iteraire) un#er the year 179= but 5ith the

title @$ge #e la -aison@ instea# o* that 5hich it bore in 179F

@e

;iecle #e la -aison.@ he latter printe# @u Burcau #e

l$imprimerie rue #u heatre'+rancais 4o. F@ is sai# to be by13

@homas Paine itoyen et cultivateur #e %$meriDue

septentrionale secretaire #u ongres #u #epartement #es a**aires

etrangeres pen#ant la guerre #$meriDue et auteur #es ouvrages

intitules: ;"4; &,,


14/212

hen the -evolution 5as a#vancing to increasing terrors Paine

un5illing to participate in the #ecrees o* a onvention 5hose sole

legal *unction 5as to *rame a onstitution retire# to an ol#

mansion an# gar#en in the +aubourg ;t. 3enis 4o. 6=. ,r. .8.

lger 5hose researches in personal #etails connecte# 5ith the-evolution are original an# use*ul recently sho5e# me in the

4ational rchives at Paris some papers connecte# 5ith the trial o*

8eorgeit Paine$s lan#lor# by 5hich it appears that the present 4o.

6= is not as % ha# suppose# the house in 5hich Paine resi#e#. ,r.

lger accompanie# me to the neighborhoo# but 5e 5ere not able

to i#enti*y the house. he arrest o* 8eorgeit is mentione# by Paine

in his essay on @+orget*ulness@ (ritings iii. =19). hen his trialcame on one o* the charges 5as that he ha# >ept in his house

@Paine an# other "nglishmen@ '' Paine being then in prison '' but

he (8eorgeit) 5as acDuitte# o* the paltry accusations brought

against him by his ;ection the @+aubourg #u 4or#.@ his ;ection

too> in the 5hole east si#e o* the +aubourg ;t. 3enis 5hereas the

present 4o. 6= is on the 5est si#e. *ter 8eorgeit (or 8eorger) ha#

been arreste# Paine 5as le*t alone in the large mansion (sai# by-ic>man to have been once the hotel o* ,a#ame #e Pompa#our)

an# it 5oul# appear by his account that it 5as a*ter the e2ecution

(&ctober =1 179=) &* his *rien#s the 8iron#ins an# political

comra#es that he *elt his en# at han# an# set about his last literary

beDuest to the 5orl# '' @he ge o* -eason@ '' in the state in

5hich it has since appeare# as he is care*ul to say. here 5as

every probability #uring the months in 5hich he 5rote (4ovember

an# 3ecember 179=) that he 5oul# be e2ecute#. 0is religious14

testament 5as prepare# 5ith the bla#e o* the guillotine suspen#e#

over him '' a *act 5hich #i# not #eter pious mythologists *rom

portraying his #eath'be# remorse *or having 5ritten the boo>.

%n e#iting Part %. o* @he ge o* -eason@ % *ollo5 closely the *irst


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e#ition 5hich 5as printe# by Barrois in Paris *rom the manuscript

no #oubt un#er the superinten#ence o* oel Barlo5 to 5hom

Paine on his 5ay to the u2embourg ha# con*i#e# it. Barlo5 5as

an merican e2'clergyman a speculator on 5hose career +rench

archives cast an un*avorable light an# one cannot be certain thatno liberties 5ere ta>en 5ith Paine$s proo*s.

% may repeat here 5hat % have state# in the outset o* my e#itorial

5or> on Paine that my rule is to correct obvious misprints an#

also any punctuation 5hich seems to ren#er the sense less clear.

n# to that % 5ill no5 a## that in *ollo5ing Paine$s Duotations

*rom the Bible % have a#opte# the Plan no5 generally use# in place

o* his occasionally too e2ten#e# 5riting out o* boo> chapter an#verse.

Paine 5as imprisone# in the u2embourg on 3ecember A 179=

an# release# on 4ovember F 179F. 0is liberation 5as secure# by

his ol# *rien# ames ,onroe (a*ter5ar#s Presi#ent) 5ho ha#

succee#e# his (Paine$s) relentless enemy 8ouvemeur ,orris as

merican ,inister in Paris. 0e 5as *oun# by ,onroe more #ea#

than alive *rom semi'starvation col# an# an abscess contracte# inprison an# ta>en to the ,inister$s o5n resi#ence. %t 5as not

suppose# that he coul# survive an# he o5e# his li*e to the ten#er

care o* ,r. an# ,rs. ,onroe. %t 5as 5hile thus a prisoner in his

room 5ith #eath still hovering over him that Paine 5rote Part

;econ# o* @he ge o* -eason.@

he 5or> 5as publishe# in on#on by 0.3. ;ymon#s on &ctober

AE 179E an# claime# to be @*rom the uthor$s manuscript.@ %t is

mar>e# as @"ntere# at ;tationers 0all@ an# pre*ace# by an15

apologetic note o* @he Boo>seller to the Public@ 5hose

commonplaces about avoi#ing both preCu#ice an# partiality an#

consi#ering @both si#es@ nee# not be Duote#. hile his volume

5as going through the press in Paris Paine hear# o* the


16/212

publication in on#on 5hich #re5 *rom him the *ollo5ing hurrie#

note to a on#on publisher no #oubt 3aniel %saacs "aton:

@;%- '' % have seen a#vertise# in the on#on papers the secon#

"#ition GpartH o* the ge o* -eason printe# the a#vertisement

says *rom the uthor$s ,anuscript an# entere# at ;tationers 0all.% have never sent any manuscript to any person. %t is there*ore a

*orgery to say it is printe# *rom the author$s manuscript an# %

suppose is #one to give the Publisher a pretence o* opy -ight

5hich he has no title to.

@% sen# you a printe# copy 5hich is the only one % have sent to

on#on. % 5ish you to ma>e a cheap e#ition o* it. % >no5 not by

5hat means any copy has got over to on#on. %* any person hasma#e a manuscript copy % have no #oubt but it is *ull o* errors. %

5ish you 5oul# tal> to ,r. ''''' upon this subCect as % 5ish to

>no5 by 5hat means this tric> has been playe# an# *rom 5hom

the publisher has got possession o* any copy.

. P%4". @P-%; 3ecember F 179E@

"aton$s cheap e#ition appeare# anuary 1 1796 5ith the above

letter on the reverse o* the title. he blan> in the note 5as probably@;ymon#s@ in the original an# possibly that publisher 5as

impose# upon. "aton alrea#y in trouble *or printing one o* Paine$s

political pamphlets *le# to merica an# an e#ition o* the @ge o*

-eason@ 5as issue# un#er a ne5 title no publisher appears it is

sai# to be @printe# *or an# sol# by all the Boo>sellers in 8reat

Britain an# %relan#.@ %t is also sai# to be @By homas Paine author

o* several remar>able per*ormances.@ % have never *oun# any copy

o* this anonymous e#ition e2cept the one in my possession. %t is16

evi#ently the e#ition 5hich 5as suppresse# by the prosecution o*

illiams *or selling a copy o* it.

comparison 5ith Paine$s revise# e#ition reveals a goo# many

clerical an# verbal errors in ;ymon#s though *e5 that a**ect the


17/212

sense. he 5orst are in the pre*ace 5here instea# o* @179=@ the

mislea#ing #ate @179L@ is given as the year at 5hose close Paine

complete# Part +irst '' an error that sprea# *ar an# 5i#e an# 5as

*astene# on by his calumnious merican @biographer@ heetham

to prove his inconsistency. he e#itors have been *airly#emoraliIe# by an# have altere# in #i**erent 5ays the *ollo5ing

sentence o* the pre*ace in ;ymon#s: @he intolerant spirit o*

religious persecution ha# trans*erre# itsel* into politics the

tribunals style# -evolutionary supplie# the place o* the

%nDuisition an# the 8uillotine o* the ;tate out#i# the +ire an#

+aggot o* the hurch.@ he rogue 5ho copie# this little >ne5 the

care 5ith 5hich Paine 5eighe# 5or#s an# that he 5oul# nevercall persecution @religious@ nor connect the guillotine 5ith the

@;tate@ nor conce#e that 5ith all its horrors it ha# out#one the

history o* *ire an# *aggot. hat Paine 5rote 5as: @he intolerant

spirit o* church persecution ha# trans*erre# itsel* into politics the

tribunals style# -evolutionary supplie# the place o* an %nDuisition

an# the 8uillotine o* the ;ta>e.@

n original letter o* Paine in the possession o* oseph o5en e2',.P. 5hich that gentleman permits me to bring to light besi#es

being one o* general interest ma>es clear the circumstances o* the

original publication. lthough the name o* the correspon#ent #oes

not appear on the letter it 5as certainly 5ritten to ol. ohn

+ello5s o* 4e5 Mor> 5ho copyrighte# Part %. o* the @ge o*

-eason.@ 0e publishe# the pamphlets o* oel Barlo5 to 5hom

Paine con*i#e# his manuscript on his 5ay to prison. +ello5s 5as

a*ter5ar#s Paine$s intimate *rien# in 4e5 Mor> an# it 5as chie*ly17

#ue to him that some portions o* the author$s 5ritings le*t in

manuscript to ,a#ame Bonneville 5hile she 5as a *reethin>er

5ere rescue# *rom her #evout #estructiveness a*ter her return to

atholicism. he letter 5hich ,r. o5en sen#s me is #ate# at


18/212

Paris anuary AL 1797.

@;%- '' Mour *rien# ,r. aritat being on the point o* his #eparture

*or merica % ma>e it the opportunity o* 5riting to you. % receive#

t5o letters *rom you 5ith some pamphlets a consi#erable time

past in 5hich you in*orm me o* your entering a copyright o* the*irst part o* the ge o* -eason: 5hen % return to merica 5e 5ill

settle *or that matter.

@s 3octor +ran>lin has been my intimate *rien# *or thirty years

past you 5ill naturally see the reason o* my continuing the

connection 5ith his gran#son. % printe# here (Paris) about *i*teen

thousan# o* the secon# part o* the ge o* -eason 5hich % sent to

,r. +Gran>linH Bache. % gave him notice o* it in ;eptember 179Ean# the copy'right by my o5n #irection 5as entere# by him. he

boo>s #i# not arrive till pril *ollo5ing but he ha# a#vertise# it

long be*ore.

@% sent to him in ugust last a manuscript letter o* about 7L pages

*rom me to ,r. ashington to be printe# in a pamphlet. ,r.

Barnes o* Phila#elphia carrie# the letter *rom me over to on#on

to be *or5ar#e# to merica. %t 5ent by the ship 0ope ap:0arley 5ho since his return *rom merica tol# me that he put it

into the post o**ice at 4e5 Mor> *or Bache. % have yet no certain

account o* its publication. % mention this that the letter may be

enDuire# a*ter in case it has not been publishe# or has not arrive#

to ,r. Bache. Barnes 5rote to me *rom on#on A9 ugust

in*orming me that he 5as o**ere# three hun#re# poun#s sterling *or

the manuscript. he o**er 5as re*use# because it 5as my intention

it shoul# not appear till it appeare# in merica as that an# not18

"nglan# 5as the place *or its operation.

@Mou as> me by your letter to ,r. aritat *or a list o* my several

5or>s in or#er to publish a collection o* them. his is an

un#erta>ing % have al5ays reserve# *or mysel*. %t not only belongs


19/212

to me o* right but nobo#y but mysel* can #o it an# as every

author is accountable (at least in reputation) *or his 5or>s he only

is the person to #o it. %* he neglects it in his li*e'time the case is

altere#. %t is my intention to return to merica in the course o* the

present year. % shall then G#oH it by subscription 5ith historicalnotes. s this 5or> 5ill employ many persons in #i**erent parts o*

the e 5ill be at your choice. % have

sustaine# so much loss by #isintereste#ness an# inattention to

money matters an# by acci#ents that % am oblige# to loo> closer

to my a**airs than % have #one. he printer (an "nglishman) 5hom

% employe# here to print the secon# part o* $the ge o* -eason$ma#e a manuscript copy o* the 5or> 5hile he 5as printing it

5hich he sent to on#on an# sol#. %t 5as by this means that an

e#ition o* it came out in on#on.

@e are 5aiting here *or ne5s *rom merica o* the state o* the

*e#eral elections. Mou 5ill have hear# long be*ore this reaches you

that the +rench government has re*use# to receive ,r. Pinc>ney as

minister. hile ,r. ,onroe 5as minister he ha# the opportunityo* so*tening matters 5ith this government *or he 5as in goo#

cre#it 5ith them tho$ they 5ere in high in#ignation at the in*i#elity

o* the ashington #ministration. %t is time that ,r. ashington

retire *or he has playe# o** so much pru#ent hypocrisy bet5een

+rance an# "nglan# that neither government believes anything he

says.

@Mour *rien# etc. @0&,; P%4".@

%t 5oul# appear that ;ymon#s$ stolen e#ition must have got ahea#19

o* that sent by Paine to +ran>lin Bache *or some o* its errors

continue in all mo#ern merican e#itions to the present #ay as

5ell as in those o* "nglan#. +or in "nglan# it 5as only the shilling

e#ition '' that revise# by Paine '' 5hich 5as suppresse#. ;ymon#s


20/212

5ho ministere# to the hal*'cro5n *ol> an# 5ho 5as also publisher

o* replies to Paine 5as le*t un#isturbe# about his pirate# e#ition

an# the ne5 ;ociety *or the suppression o* ice an# %mmorality

*astene# on one homas illiams 5ho sol# pious tracts but 5as

also convicte# (une AF 1797) o* having sol# one copy o* the@ge o* -eason.@ "rs>ine 5ho ha# #e*en#e# Paine at his trial *or

the @-ights o* ,an@ con#ucte# the prosecution o* illiams. 0e

gaine# the victory *rom a pac>e# Cury but 5as not much elate# by

it especially a*ter a certain a#venture on his 5ay to incoln$s %nn.

0e *elt his coat clutche# an# behel# at his *eet a 5oman bathe# in

tears. ;he le# him into the small boo>'shop o* homas illiams

not yet calle# up *or Cu#gment an# there he behel# his victimstitching tracts in a 5retche# little room 5here there 5ere three

chil#ren t5o su**ering 5ith ;mallpo2. 0e sa5 that it 5oul# be

ruin an# even a sort o* mur#er to ta>e a5ay to prison the husban#

5ho 5as not a *reethin>er an# lamente# his publication o* the

boo> an# a meeting o* the ;ociety 5hich ha# retaine# him 5as

summone#. here 5as a *ull meeting the Bishop o* on#on

(Porteus) in the chair. "rs>ine remin#e# them that illiams 5asyet to be brought up *or sentence #escribe# the scene he ha#

5itnesse# an# illiams$ penitence an# as the boo> 5as no5

suppresse# as>e# permission to move *or a nominal sentence.

,ercy he urge# 5as a part o* the hristianity they 5ere

#e*en#ing. 4ot one o* the ;ociety too> his si#e '' not even

@philanthropic@ ilber*orce '' an# "rs>ine thre5 up his brie*. his

action o* "rs>ine le# the u#ge to give illiams only a year in

prison instea# o* the three he sai# ha# been inten#e#.20

hile illiams 5as in prison the ortho#o2 colporteurs 5ere

circulating "rs>ine$s speech on hristianity but also an

anonymous sermon @&n the "2istence an# ttributes o* the 3eity@

all o* 5hich 5as *rom Paine$s @ge o* -eason@ e2cept a brie*


21/212

@##ress to the 3eity@ appen#e#. his picturesDue anomaly 5as

repeate# in the circulation o* Paine$s @3iscourse to the

heophilanthropists@ (their an# the author$s names remove#) un#er

the title o* @theism -e*ute#.@ Both o* these pamphlets are no5

be*ore me an# besi#e them a on#on tract o* one page Cust sent*or my spiritual bene*it. his is hea#e# @ or# o* aution.@ %t

begins by mentioning the @pernicious #octrines o* Paine@ the *irst

being @that there is 4o 8&3@ (sic) then procee#s to a##uce

evi#ences o* #ivine e2istence ta>en *rom Paine$s 5or>s. %t shoul#

be a##e# that this one #ingy page is the only @survival@ o* the

ancient Paine e**igy in the tract *orm 5hich % have been able to

*in# in recent years an# to this no ;ociety or Publisher$s name isattache#.

he imprisonment o* illiams 5as the beginning o* a thirty years$

5ar *or religious liberty in "nglan# in the course o* 5hich

occurre# many notable events such as "aton receiving homage in

his pillory at horing ross an# the 5hole arlile *amily

imprisone# '' its hea# imprisone# more than nine years *or

publishing the @ge o* -eason.@ his last victory o* persecution5as suici#al. 8entlemen o* 5ealth not a#herents o* Paine helpe#

in setting arlile up in business in +leet ;treet 5here *ree'thin>ing

publications have since been sol# 5ithout interruption. But though

iberty triumphe# in one sense the @ge o* -eason.@ remaine# to

some e2tent suppresse# among those 5hose attention it especially

merite#. %ts original prosecution by a ;ociety *or the ;uppression

o* ice (a #evice to relieve the ro5n) amounte# to a libel upon a

morally clean boo> restricting its perusal in *amilies an# the *act21

that the shilling boo> sol# by an# among humble people 5as alone

prosecute# #i**use# among the e#ucate# an eDually *alse notion

that the @ge o* -eason@ 5as vulgar an# illiterate. he

theologians as 5e have seen estimate# more Custly the ability o*


22/212

their antagonist the collaborator o* +ran>lin -ittenhouse an#

lymer on 5hom the e as @the s5inish multitu#e.@

;>epticism or its *ree utterance 5as temporarily #riven out o*polite circles by its complication 5ith the out'la5e# vin#icator o*

the @-ights o* ,an.@ But that long combat has no5 passe# a5ay.

ime has re#uce# the @ge o* -eason@ *rom a *lag o* popular

ra#icalism to a comparatively conservative treatise so *ar as its

negations are concerne#. n ol# *rien# tells me that in his youth he

hear# a sermon in 5hich the preacher #eclare# that @om Paine

5as so 5ic>e# that he coul# not be burie# his bones 5ere thro5ninto a bo2 5hich 5as ban#ie# about the 5orl# till it came to a

button'manu*acturer @an# no5 Paine is travelling roun# the 5orl#

in the *orm o* buttons!@ his variant o* the an#ering e5 myth

may no5 be regar#e# as unconscious homage to the author 5hose

metaphorical bones may be recogniIe# in buttons no5 *ashionable

an# some even *oun# use*ul in hol#ing clerical vestments together.

But the care*ul rea#er 5ill *in# in Paine$s @ge o* -eason@something beyon# negations an# in conclusion % 5ill especially

call attention to the ne5 #eparture in heism in#icate# in a passage

correspon#ing to a *amous aphorism o* ?ant in#icate# by a note

in Part %%. he #iscovery alrea#y mentione# that Part %. 5as

5ritten at least *ourteen years be*ore Part %%. le# me to compare

the t5o an# it is plain that 5hile the earlier 5or> is an

ampli*ication o* 4e5tonian 3eism base# on the phenomena o*

planetary motion the 5or> o* 179E bases belie* in 8o# on @the22

universal #isplay o* himsel* in the 5or>s o* the creation an# by

that repugnance 5e *eel in ourselves to ba# actions an#

#isposition to #o goo# ones.@ his e2altation o* the moral nature o*

man to be the *oun#ation o* theistic religion though no5 *amiliar


23/212

5as a hun#re# years ago a ne5 a**irmation it has le# on a

conception o* #eity subversive o* last'century #eism it has stea#ily

humaniIe# religion an# its ultimate philosophical an# ethical

results have not yet been reache#.

CHAPTER I' 0"


24/212

But lest it shoul# be suppose# that % believe many other things in

a##ition to these % shall in the progress o* this 5or> #eclare the

things % #o not believe an# my reasons *or not believing them.

% #o not believe in the cree# pro*esse# by the e5ish church by the

-oman church by the 8ree> church by the ur>ish church by theProtestant church nor by any church that % >no5 o*. ,y o5n min#

is my o5n church.

ll national institutions o* churches 5hether e5ish hristian or

ur>ish appear to me no other than human inventions set up to

terri*y an# enslave man>in# an# monopoliIe po5er an# pro*it.

% #o not mean by this #eclaration to con#emn those 5ho believe

other5ise they have the same right to their belie* as % have tomine. But it is necessary to the happiness o* man that he be

mentally *aith*ul to himsel*. %n*i#elity #oes not consist in

believing or in #isbelieving it consists in pro*essing to believe

5hat he #oes not believe.

%t is impossible to calculate the moral mischie* i* % may so e2press

it that mental lying has pro#uce# in society. hen a man has so

*ar corrupte# an# prostitute# the chastity o* his min# as tosubscribe his pro*essional belie* to things he #oes not believe he

has prepare# himsel* *or the commission o* every other crime. 0e

ta>es up the tra#e o* a priest *or the sa>e o* gain an# in or#er to

Duali*y himsel* *or that tra#e he begins 5ith a perCury. an 5e

conceive anything more #estructive to morality than thisK

;oon a*ter % ha# publishe# the pamphlet &,,&4 ;"4;" in

merica % sa5 the e2cee#ing probability that a revolution in the24

system o* government 5oul# be *ollo5e# by a revolution in the

system o* religion. he a#ulterous connection o* church an# state

5herever it ha# ta>en place 5hether e5ish hristian or ur>ish

ha# so e**ectually prohibite# by pains an# penalties every

#iscussion upon establishe# cree#s an# upon *irst principles o*


25/212

religion that until the system o* government shoul# be change#

those subCects coul# not be brought *airly an# openly be*ore the

5orl# but that 5henever this shoul# be #one a revolution in the

system o* religion 5oul# *ollo5. 0uman inventions an# priestcra*t

5oul# be #etecte# an# man 5oul# return to the pureunmi2e# an# una#ulterate# belie* o* one 8o# an# no more.

CHAPTER II' &+ ,%;;%&4; 43 -""%&4;.

""-M national church or religion has establishe# itsel* by

preten#ing some special mission *rom 8o# communicate# to

certain in#ivi#uals. he e5s have their ,oses the hristians their

esus hrist their apostles an# saints an# the ur>s their,ahomet as i* the 5ay to 8o# 5as not open to every man ali>e.

"ach o* those churches sho5s certain boo>s 5hich they call

revelation or the or# o* 8o#. he e5s say that their or# o*8o# 5as given by 8o# to ,oses *ace to *ace the hristians say

that their or# o* 8o# came by #ivine inspiration an# the ur>s

say that their or# o* 8o# (the ?oran) 5as brought by an angel

*rom heaven. "ach o* those churches accuses the other o* unbelie*an# *or my o5n part % #isbelieve them all.

s it is necessary to a**i2 right i#eas to 5or#s % 5ill be*ore %

procee# *urther into the subCect o**er some observations on the

5or# $revelation.$ -evelation 5hen applie# to religion means

something communicate# imme#iately *rom 8o# to man.

4o one 5ill #eny or #ispute the po5er o* the lmighty to ma>e25

such a communication i* he pleases. But a#mitting *or the sa>e o*a case that something has been reveale# to a certain person an#

not reveale# to any other person it is revelation to that person

only. hen he tells it to a secon# person a secon# to a thir# a

thir# to a *ourth an# so on it ceases to be a revelation to all those

persons. %t is revelation to the *irst person only an# hearsay to


26/212

every other an# conseDuently they are not oblige# to believe it.

%t is a contra#iction in terms an# i#eas to call anything a revelation

that comes to us at secon# han# either verbally or in 5riting.

-evelation is necessarily limite# to the *irst communication. *ter

this it is only an account o* something 5hich that person says 5asa revelation ma#e to him an# though he may *in# himsel* oblige#

to believe it it cannot be incumbent on me to believe it in the same

manner *or it 5as not a revelation ma#e to me an# % have only his

5or# *or it that it 5as ma#e to him.

hen ,oses tol# the chil#ren o* %srael that he receive# the t5o

tables o* the comman#ments *rom the han# o* 8o# they 5ere not

oblige# to believe him because they ha# no other authority *or itthan his telling them so an# % have no other authority *or it than

some historian telling me so the comman#ments carrying no

internal evi#ence o* #ivinity 5ith them. hey contain some goo#

moral precepts such as any man Duali*ie# to be a la5giver or a

legislator coul# pro#uce himsel* 5ithout having recourse to

supernatural intervention. G4&": %t is ho5ever necessary to

e2cept the #eclamation 5hich says that 8o# $visits the sins o* the*athers upon the chil#ren$. his is contrary to every principle o*

moral Custice. '' uthor.H

hen % am tol# that the ?oran 5as 5ritten in 0eaven an# brought

to ,ahomet by an angel the account comes to near the same >in#

o* hearsay evi#ence an# secon# han# authority as the *ormer. % #i#

not see the angel mysel* an# there*ore % have a right not to believe26

it.hen also % am tol# that a 5oman calle# the irgin ,ary sai# or

gave out that she 5as 5ith chil# 5ithout any cohabitation 5ith a

man an# that her betrothe# husban# oseph sai# that an angel

tol# him so % have a right to believe them or not: such a

circumstance reDuire# a much stronger evi#ence than their bare


27/212

5or# *or it: but 5e have not even this *or neither oseph nor ,ary

5rote any such matter themselves. %t is only reporte# by others that

they sai# so. %t is hearsay upon hearsay an# % #o not chose to rest

my belie* upon such evi#ence.

%t is ho5ever not #i**icult to account *or the cre#it that 5as givento the story o* esus hrist being the ;on o* 8o#. 0e 5as born

5hen the heathen mythology ha# still some *ashion an# repute in

the 5orl# an# that mythology ha# prepare# the people *or the

belie* o* such a story. lmost all the e2traor#inary men that live#

un#er the heathen mythology 5ere repute# to be the sons o* some

o* their go#s. %t 5as not a ne5 thing at that time to believe a man

to have been celestially begotten the intercourse o* go#s 5ith5omen 5as then a matter o* *amiliar opinion. heir upiter

accor#ing to their accounts ha# cohabite# 5ith hun#re#s the story

there*ore ha# nothing in it either ne5 5on#er*ul or obscene it

5as con*ormable to the opinions that then prevaile# among the

people calle# 8entiles or mythologists an# it 5as those people

only that believe# it. he e5s 5ho ha# >ept strictly to the belie*

o* one 8o# an# no more an# 5ho ha# al5ays reCecte# the heathenmythology never cre#ite# the story.

%t is curious to observe ho5 the theory o* 5hat is calle# the

hristian hurch sprung out o* the tail o* the heathen mythology.

#irect incorporation too> place in the *irst instance by ma>ing

the repute# *oun#er to be celestially begotten. he trinity o* go#s

that then *ollo5e# 5as no other than a re#uction o* the *ormer27

plurality 5hich 5as about t5enty or thirty thousan#. he statue o*,ary succee#e# the statue o* 3iana o* "phesus. he #ei*ication o*

heroes change# into the canoniIation o* saints. he ,ythologists

ha# go#s *or everything the hristian ,ythologists ha# saints *or

everything. he church became as cro5#e# 5ith the one as the

pantheon ha# been 5ith the other an# -ome 5as the place o* both.


28/212

he hristian theory is little else than the i#olatry o* the ancient

mythologists accommo#ate# to the purposes o* po5er an#

revenue an# it yet remains to reason an# philosophy to abolish the

amphibious *rau#.

CHAPTER III' &4"-4%48 0" 0-"- &+ ";in# an# though similar systems o*

morality ha# been preache# by on*ucius an# by some o* the8ree> philosophers many years be*ore by the Jua>ers since an#

by many goo# men in all ages it has not been e2cee#e# by any.

esus hrist 5rote no account o* himsel* o* his birth parentage oranything else. 4ot a line o* 5hat is calle# the 4e5 estament is o*

his 5riting. he history o* him is altogether the 5or> o* other

people an# as to the account given o* his resurrection an#

ascension it 5as the necessary counterpart to the story o* his birth.0is historians having brought him into the 5orl# in a supernatural

manner 5ere oblige# to ta>e him out again in the same manner or

the *irst part o* the story must have *allen to the groun#.

he 5retche# contrivance 5ith 5hich this latter part is tol#

e2cee#s everything that 5ent be*ore it. he *irst part that o* the28

miraculous conception 5as not a thing that a#mitte# o* publicity

an# there*ore the tellers o* this part o* the story ha# this a#vantagethat though they might not be cre#ite# they coul# not be #etecte#.

hey coul# not be e2pecte# to prove it because it 5as not one o*

those things that a#mitte# o* proo* an# it 5as impossible that the

person o* 5hom it 5as tol# coul# prove it himsel*.

But the resurrection o* a #ea# person *rom the grave an# his


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ascension through the air is a thing very #i**erent as to the

evi#ence it a#mits o* to the invisible conception o* a chil# in the

5omb. he resurrection an# ascension supposing them to have

ta>en place a#mitte# o* public an# ocular #emonstration li>e that

o* the ascension o* a balloon or the sun at noon #ay to allerusalem at least. thing 5hich everybo#y is reDuire# to believe

reDuires that the proo* an# evi#ence o* it shoul# be eDual to all

an# universal an# as the public visibility o* this last relate# act

5as the only evi#ence that coul# give sanction to the *ormer part

the 5hole o* it *alls to the groun# because that evi#ence never 5as

given. %nstea# o* this a small number o* persons not more than

eight or nine are intro#uce# as pro2ies *or the 5hole 5orl# to saythey sa5 it an# all the rest o* the 5orl# are calle# upon to believe

it. But it appears that homas #i# not believe the resurrection an#

as they say 5oul# not believe 5ithout having ocular an# manual

#emonstration himsel*. ;o neither 5ill % an# the reason is eDually

as goo# *or me an# *or every other person as *or homas.

%t is in vain to attempt to palliate or #isguise this matter. he story

so *ar as relates to the supernatural part has every mar> o* *rau#an# imposition stampe# upon the *ace o* it. ho 5ere the authors

o* it is as impossible *or us no5 to >no5 as it is *or us to be

assure# that the boo>s in 5hich the account is relate# 5ere 5ritten

by the persons 5hose names they bear. he best surviving

evi#ence 5e no5 have. respecting this a**air is the e5s. hey are29

regularly #escen#e# *rom the people 5ho live# in the time this

resurrection an# ascension is sai# to have happene# an# they say$it is not true.$ %t has long appeare# to me a strange inconsistency to

cite the e5s as a proo* o* the truth o* the story. %t is Cust the same

as i* a man 5ere to say % 5ill prove the truth o* 5hat % have tol#

you by pro#ucing the people 5ho say it is *alse.

hat such a person as esus hrist e2iste# an# that he 5as


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cruci*ie# 5hich 5as the mo#e o* e2ecution at that #ay are

historical relations strictly 5ithin the limits o* probability. 0e

preache# most e2cellent morality an# the eDuality o* man but he

preache# also against the corruptions an# avarice o* the e5ish

priests an# this brought upon him the hatre# an# vengeance o* the5hole or#er o* priest'hoo#. he accusation 5hich those priests

brought against him 5as that o* se#ition an# conspiracy against the

-oman government to 5hich the e5s 5ere then subCect an#

tributary an# it is not improbable that the -oman government

might have some secret apprehension o* the e**ects o* his #octrine

as 5ell as the e5ish priests neither is it improbable that esus

hrist ha# in contemplation the #elivery o* the e5ish nation *romthe bon#age o* the -omans. Bet5een the t5o ho5ever this

virtuous re*ormer an# revolutionist lost his li*e. G4&": he

+rench 5or> has here: @0o5ever this may be *or one or the other

o* these suppositions this virtuous re*ormer this revolutionist too

little imitate# too much *orgotten too much misun#erstoo# lost

his li*e. '' "#itor. (on5ay)H

CHAPTER IV' &+ 0" B;"; &+ 0-%;%4%M.

% is upon this plain narrative o* *acts together 5ith another case %

am going to mention that the hristian mythologists calling

themselves the hristian hurch have erecte# their *able 5hich30

*or absur#ity an# e2travagance is not e2cee#e# by anything that is

to be *oun# in the mythology o* the ancients.

he ancient mythologists tell us that the race o* 8iants ma#e 5aragainst upiter an# that one o* them thre5 a hun#re# roc>s against

him at one thro5 that upiter #e*eate# him 5ith thun#er an#

con*ine# him a*ter5ar#s un#er ,ount "tna an# that every time

the 8iant turns himsel* ,ount "tna belches *ire. %t is here easy to

see that the circumstance o* the mountain that o* its being a


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volcano suggeste# the i#ea o* the *able an# that the *able is ma#e

to *it an# 5in# itsel* up 5ith that circumstance.

he hristian mythologists tell that their ;atan ma#e 5ar against

the lmighty 5ho #e*eate# him an# con*ine# him a*ter5ar#s not

un#er a mountain but in a pit. %t is here easy to see that the *irst*able suggeste# the i#ea o* the secon# *or the *able o* upiter an#

the 8iants 5as tol# many hun#re# years be*ore that o* ;atan.

hus *ar the ancient an# the hristian mythologists #i**er very

little *rom each other. But the latter have contrive# to carry the

matter much *arther. hey have contrive# to connect the *abulous

part o* the story o* esus hrist 5ith the *able originating *rom

,ount "tna an# in or#er to ma>e all the parts o* the story tietogether they have ta>en to their ai# the tra#itions o* the e5s *or

the hristian mythology is ma#e up partly *rom the ancient

mythology an# partly *rom the e5ish tra#itions.

he hristian mythologists a*ter having con*ine# ;atan in a pit

5ere oblige# to let him out again to bring on the seDuel o* the

*able. 0e is then intro#uce# into the gar#en o* "#en in the shape o*

a sna>e or a serpent an# in that shape he enters into *amiliarconversation 5ith "ve 5ho is no 5ays surprise# to hear a sna>e

tal> an# the issue o* this tete'a'tate is that he persua#es her to eat

an apple an# the eating o* that apple #amns all man>in#.

*ter giving ;atan this triumph over the 5hole creation one 5oul#31

have suppose# that the church mythologists 5oul# have been >in#

enough to sen# him bac> again to the pit or i* they ha# not #one

this that they 5oul# have put a mountain upon him (*or they saythat their *aith can remove a mountain) or have put him un#er a

mountain as the *ormer mythologists ha# #one to prevent his

getting again among the 5omen an# #oing more mischie*. But

instea# o* this they leave him at large 5ithout even obliging him

to give his parole. he secret o* 5hich is that they coul# not #o


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5ithout him an# a*ter being at the trouble o* ma>ing him they

bribe# him to stay. hey promise# him the e5s the

ur>s by anticipation nine'tenths o* the 5orl# besi#e an#

,ahomet into the bargain. *ter this 5ho can #oubt the

bounti*ulness o* the hristian ,ythologyK0aving thus ma#e an insurrection an# a battle in heaven in 5hich

none o* the combatants coul# be either >ille# or 5oun#e# '' put

;atan into the pit '' let him out again '' given him a triumph over

the 5hole creation '' #amne# all man>in# by the eating o* an

apple there hristian mythologists bring the t5o en#s o* their

*able together. hey represent this virtuous an# amiable man esus

hrist to be at once both 8o# an# man an# also the ;on o* 8o#celestially begotten on purpose to be sacri*ice# because they say

that "ve in her longing G4&": he +rench 5or> has: @yiel#ing to

an unrestraine# appetite. '' "#itor.H ha# eaten an apple.

CHAPTER V' ",%4%&4 %4 3"% &+ 0" P-""3%48 B;";.

Pe *or it a *oun#ation to rise upon the inventors

5ere un#er the necessity o* giving to the being 5hom they call

;atan a po5er eDually as great i* not greater than they attribute tothe lmighty. hey have not only given him the po5er o*

liberating himsel* *rom the pit a*ter 5hat they call his *all but

they have ma#e that po5er increase a*ter5ar#s to in*inity. Be*ore

this *all they represent him only as an angel o* limite# e2istence as

they represent the rest. *ter his *all he becomes by their account


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omnipresent. 0e e2ists every5here an# at the same time. 0e

occupies the 5hole immensity o* space.

4ot content 5ith this #ei*ication o* ;atan they represent him as

#e*eating by stratagem in the shape o* an animal o* the creation

all the po5er an# 5is#om o* the lmighty. hey represent him ashaving compelle# the lmighty to the #irect necessity either o*

surren#ering the 5hole o* the creation to the government an#

sovereignty o* this ;atan or o* capitulating *or its re#emption by

coming #o5n upon earth an# e2hibiting himsel* upon a cross in

the shape o* a man.

0a# the inventors o* this story tol# it the contrary 5ay that is ha#

they represente# the lmighty as compelling ;atan to e2hibithimsel* on a cross in the shape o* a sna>e as a punishment *or his

ne5 transgression the story 5oul# have been less absur# less

contra#ictory. But instea# o* this they ma>e the transgressor

triumph an# the lmighty *all.

hat many goo# men have believe# this strange *able an# live#

very goo# lives un#er that belie* (*or cre#ulity is not a crime) is

5hat % have no #oubt o*. %n the *irst place they 5ere e#ucate# tobelieve it an# they 5oul# have believe# anything else in the same

manner. here are also many 5ho have been so enthusiastically

enrapture# by 5hat they conceive# to be the in*inite love o* 8o# to33

man in ma>ing a sacri*ice o* himsel* that the vehemence o* the

i#ea has *orbi##en an# #eterre# them *rom e2amining into the

absur#ity an# pro*aneness o* the story. he more unnatural

anything is the more is it capable o* becoming the obCect o* #ismala#miration. G4&": he +rench 5or> has @blin# an#@ prece#ing

#ismal.@ '' "#itor.H

CHAPTER VI' &+ 0" -


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not present themselves every hour to our eyesK 3o 5e not see a

*air creation prepare# to receive us the instant 5e are born '' a

5orl# *urnishe# to our han#s that cost us nothingK %s it 5e that

light up the sun that pour #o5n the rain an# *ill the earth 5ith

abun#anceK hether 5e sleep or 5a>e the vast machinery o* theuniverse still goes on. re these things an# the blessings they

in#icate in *uture nothing to usK an our gross *eelings be e2cite#

by no other subCects than trage#y an# suici#eK &r is the gloomy

pri#e o* man become so intolerable that nothing can *latter it but a

sacri*ice o* the reatorK

% >no5 that this bol# investigation 5ill alarm many but it 5oul#

be paying too great a compliment to their cre#ulity to *orbear it onthat account. he times an# the subCect #eman# it to be #one. he

suspicion that the theory o* 5hat is calle# the hristian church is

*abulous is becoming very e2tensive in all countries an# it 5ill be

a consolation to men staggering un#er that suspicion an# #oubting

5hat to believe an# 5hat to #isbelieve to see the subCect *reely

investigate#. % there*ore pass on to an e2amination o* the boo>s

calle# the &l# an# the 4e5 estament.http://thecmrevolution.com/

CHAPTER VII34

' ",%4%&4 &+ 0" &3 ";,"4.

0";" boo>s beginning 5ith 8enesis an# en#ing 5ith

-evelations (5hich by the bye is a boo> o* ri##les that reDuires a

revelation to e2plain it) are 5e are tol# the 5or# o* 8o#. %t is

there*ore proper *or us to >no5 5ho tol# us so that 5e may >no55hat cre#it to give to the report. he ans5er to this Duestion is

that nobo#y can tell e2cept that 5e tell one another so. he case

ho5ever historically appears to be as *ollo5s:

hen the church mythologists establishe# their system they

collecte# all the 5ritings they coul# *in# an# manage# them as
http://thecmrevolution.com/http://thecmrevolution.com/


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they please#. %t is a matter altogether o* uncertainty to us 5hether

such o* the 5ritings as no5 appear un#er the name o* the &l# an#

the 4e5 estament are in the same state in 5hich those collectors

say they *oun# them or 5hether they a##e# altere# abri#ge# or

#resse# them up.Be this as it may they #eci#e# by vote 5hich o* the boo>s out o*

the collection they ha# ma#e shoul# be the &-3 &+ 8&3 an#

5hich shoul# not. hey reCecte# several they vote# others to be

#oubt*ul such as the boo>s calle# the pocrypha an# those boo>s

5hich ha# a maCority o* votes 5ere vote# to be the 5or# o* 8o#.

0a# they vote# other5ise all the people since calling themselves

hristians ha# believe# other5ise *or the belie* o* the one comes*rom the vote o* the other. ho the people 5ere that #i# all this

5e >no5 nothing o*. hey call themselves by the general name o*

the hurch an# this is all 5e >no5 o* the matter.

s 5e have no other e2ternal evi#ence or authority *or believing

these boo>s to be the 5or# o* 8o# than 5hat % have mentione#

5hich is no evi#ence or authority at all % come in the ne2t place

to e2amine the internal evi#ence containe# in the boo>sthemselves.

%n the *ormer part o* this essay % have spo>en o* revelation. % no535

procee# *urther 5ith that subCect *or the purpose o* applying it to

the boo>s in Duestion.

-evelation is a communication o* something 5hich the person to

5hom that thing is reveale# #i# not >no5 be*ore. +or i* % have

#one a thing or seen it #one it nee#s no revelation to tell me %have #one it or seen it nor to enable me to tell it or to 5rite it.

-evelation there*ore cannot be applie# to anything #one upon

earth o* 5hich man is himsel* the actor or the 5itness an#

conseDuently all the historical an# anec#otal part o* the Bible

5hich is almost the 5hole o* it is not 5ithin the meaning an#


36/212

compass o* the 5or# revelation an# there*ore is not the 5or# o*

8o#.

hen ;amson ran o** 5ith the gate'posts o* 8aIa i* he ever #i#

so (an# 5hether he #i# or not is nothing to us) or 5hen he visite#

his 3elilah or caught his *o2es or #i# anything else 5hat hasrevelation to #o 5ith these thingsK %* they 5ere *acts he coul# tell

them himsel* or his secretary i* he >ept one coul# 5rite them i*

they 5ere 5orth either telling or 5riting an# i* they 5ere *ictions

revelation coul# not ma>e them true an# 5hether true or not 5e

are neither the better nor the 5iser *or >no5ing them. hen 5e

contemplate the immensity o* that Being 5ho #irects an# governs

the incomprehensible 0&" o* 5hich the utmost >en o* humansight can #iscover but a part 5e ought to *eel shame at calling

such paltry stories the 5or# o* 8o#.

s to the account o* the creation 5ith 5hich the boo> o* 8enesis

opens it has all the appearance o* being a tra#ition 5hich the

%sraelites ha# among them be*ore they came into "gypt an# a*ter

their #eparture *rom that country they put it at the hea# o* their

history 5ithout telling as it is most probable that they #i# not>no5 ho5 they came by it. he manner in 5hich the account

opens sho5s it to be tra#itionary. %t begins abruptly. %t is nobo#y36

that spea>s. %t is nobo#y that hears. @%t is a##resse# to nobo#y. %t

has neither *irst secon# nor thir# person. %t has every criterion o*

being a tra#ition. %t has no voucher. ,oses #oes not ta>e it upon

himsel* by intro#ucing it 5ith the *ormality that he uses on other

occasions such as that o* saying @he or#s spa>e unto ,osessaying.@

hy it has been calle# the ,osaic account o* the creation % am at

a loss to conceive. ,oses % believe 5as too goo# a Cu#ge o* such

subCects to put his name to that account. 0e ha# been e#ucate#

among the "gyptians 5ho 5ere a people as 5ell s>ille# in science


37/212

an# particularly in astronomy as any people o* their #ay an# the

silence an# caution that ,oses observes in not authenticating the

account is a goo# negative evi#ence that he neither tol# it nor

believe# it. '' he case is that every nation o* people has been

5orl#'ma>ers an# the %sraelites ha# as much right to set up thetra#e o* 5orl#'ma>ing as any o* the rest an# as ,oses 5as not an

%sraelite he might not chose to contra#ict the tra#ition. he

account ho5ever is harmless an# this is more than can be sai#

*or many other parts o* the Bible.

henever 5e rea# the obscene stories the voluptuous

#ebaucheries the cruel an# torturous e2ecutions the unrelenting

vin#ictiveness 5ith 5hich more than hal* the Bible G4&": %tmust be borne in min# that by the @Bible@ Paine al5ays means the

&l# estament alone. '' "#itor.H is *ille# it 5oul# be more

consistent that 5e calle# it the 5or# o* a #emon than the or# o*

8o#. %t is a history o* 5ic>e#ness that has serve# to corrupt an#

brutaliIe man>in# an# *or my o5n part % sincerely #etest it as %

#etest everything that is cruel.

e scarcely meet 5ith anything a *e5 phrases e2cepte# but 5hat#eserves either our abhorrence or our contempt till 5e come to the

miscellaneous parts o* the Bible. %n the anonymous publications37

the Psalms an# the Boo> o* ob more particularly in the latter 5e

*in# a great #eal o* elevate# sentiment reverentially e2presse# o*

the po5er an# benignity o* the lmighty but they stan# on no

higher ran> than many other compositions on similar subCects as

5ell be*ore that time as since.he Proverbs 5hich are sai# to be ;olomon$s though most

probably a collection (because they #iscover a >no5le#ge o* li*e

5hich his situation e2clu#e# him *rom >no5ing) are an instructive

table o* ethics. hey are in*erior in >eenness to the proverbs o* the

;paniar#s an# not more 5ise an# oeconomical than those o* the


38/212

merican +ran>lin.

ll the remaining parts o* the Bible generally >no5n by the name

o* the Prophets are the 5or>s o* the e5ish poets an# itinerant

preachers 5ho mi2e# poetry anec#ote an# #evotion together ''

an# those 5or>s still retain the air an# style o* poetry though intranslation. G4&": s there are many rea#ers 5ho #o not see that

a composition is poetry unless it be in rhyme it is *or their

in*ormation that % a## this note.

Poetry consists principally in t5o things '' imagery an#

composition. he composition o* poetry #i**ers *rom that o* prose

in the manner o* mi2ing long an# short syllables together. a>e a

long syllable out o* a line o* poetry an# put a short one in theroom o* it or put a long syllable 5here a short one shoul# be an#

that line 5ill lose its poetical harmony. %t 5ill have an e**ect upon

the line li>e that o* misplacing a note in a song.

he imagery in those boo>s calle# the Prophets appertains

altogether to poetry. %t is *ictitious an# o*ten e2travagant an# not

a#missible in any other >in# o* 5riting than poetry.

o sho5 that these 5ritings are compose# in poetical numbers %5ill ta>e ten syllables as they stan# in the boo> an# ma>e a line

o* the same number o* syllables (heroic measure) that shall rhyme38

5ith the last 5or#. %t 5ill then be seen that the composition o*

those boo>s is poetical measure. he instance % shall *irst pro#uce

is *rom %saiah: ''

@0ear & ye heavens an# give ear & earth $ is 8o# himsel* that

calls attention *orth.nother instance % shall Duote is *rom the mourn*ul eremiah to

5hich % shall a## t5o other lines *or the purpose o* carrying out

the *igure an# sho5ing the intention o* the poet.

@& that mine hea# 5ere 5aters an# mine eyes@ ere *ountains

*lo5ing li>e the liDui# s>ies hen 5oul# % give the mighty *loo#


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release n# 5eep a #eluge *or the human race.@ '' uthor.H

here is not throughout the 5hole boo> calle# the Bible any 5or#

that #escribes to us 5hat 5e call a poet nor any 5or# that

#escribes 5hat 5e call poetry. he case is that the 5or# prophet

to hich a later times have a**i2e# a ne5 i#ea 5as the Bible 5or#*or poet an# the 5or# $propesytng$ meant the art o* ma>ing poetry.

%t also meant the art o* playing poetry to a tune upon any

instrument o* music.

e rea# o* prophesying 5ith pipes tabrets an# horns '' o*

prophesying 5ith harps 5ith psalteries 5ith cymbals an# 5ith

every other instrument o* music then in *ashion. ere 5e no5 to

spea> o* prophesying 5ith a *i##le or 5ith a pipe an# tabor thee2pression 5oul# have no meaning or 5oul# appear ri#iculous

an# to some people contemptuous because 5e have change# the

meaning o* the 5or#.

e are tol# o* ;aul being among the prophets an# also that he

prophesie# but 5e are not tol# 5hat they prophesie# nor 5hat he

prophesie#. he case is there 5as nothing to tell *or these

prophets 5ere a company o* musicians an# poets an# ;aul Coine#in the concert an# this 5as calle# prophesying.

he account given o* this a**air in the boo> calle# ;amuel is that39

;aul met a company o* prophets a 5hole company o* them!

coming #o5n 5ith a psaltery a tabret a pipe an# a harp an# that

they prophesie# an# that he prophesie# 5ith them. But it appears

a*ter5ar#s that ;aul prophesie# ba#ly that is he per*orme# his

part ba#ly *or it is sai# that an @evil spirit *rom 8o# G4&": sthos men 5ho call themselves #ivines an# commentators are very

*on# o* puIIling one another % leave them to contest the meaning

o* the *irst part o* the phrase that o* an evil s*iirit o* 8o#. % >eep to

my te2t. % >eep to the meaning o* the 5or# prophesy. '' uthor.H

came upon ;aul an# he prophesie#.@


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4o5 5ere there no other passage in the boo> calle# the Bible

than this to #emonstrate to us that 5e have lost the original

meaning o* the 5or# prophesy an# substitute# another meaning in

its place this alone 5oul# be su**icient *or it is impossible to use

an# apply the 5or# prophesy in the place it is here use# an#applie# i* 5e give to it the sense 5hich later times have a**i2e# to

it. he manner in 5hich it is here use# strips it o* all religious

meaning an# she5s that a man might then be a prophet or he

might Prophesy as he may no5 be a poet or a musician 5ithout

any regar# to the morality or the immorality o* his character. he

5or# 5as originally a term o* science promiscuously applie# to

poetry an# to music an# not restricte# to any subCect upon 5hichpoetry an# music might be e2ercise#.

3eborah an# Bara> are calle# prophets not because they pre#icte#

anything but because they compose# the poem or song that bears

their name in celebration o* an act alrea#y #one. 3avi# is ran>e#

among the prophets *or he 5as a musician an# 5as also repute#

to be (though perhaps very erroneously) the author o* the Psalms.

But braham %saac an# acob are not calle# prophets it #oes notappear *rom any accounts 5e have that they coul# either sing

play music or ma>e poetry.40

e are tol# o* the greater an# the lesser prophets. hey might as

5ell tell us o* the greater an# the lesser 8o# *or there cannot be

#egrees in prophesying consistently 5ith its mo#ern sense. But

there are #egrees in poetry an# there'*ore the phrase is

reconcilable to the case 5hen 5e un#erstan# by it the greater an#the lesser poets.

%t is altogether unnecessary a*ter this to o**er any observations

upon 5hat those men style# propliets have 5ritten. he a2e goes

at once to the root by sho5ing that the original meaning o* the

5or# has been mista>en an# conseDuently all the in*erences that


41/212

have been #ra5n *rom those boo>s the #evotional respect that has

been pai# to them an# the laboure# commentaries that have been

5ritten upon them un#er that mista>en meaning are not 5orth

#isputing about. '' %n many things ho5ever the 5ritings o* the

e5ish poets #eserve a better *ate than that o* being boun# up asthey no5 are 5ith the trash that accompanies them un#er the

abuse# name o* the or# o* 8o#.

%* 5e permit ourselves to conceive right i#eas o* things 5e must

necessarily a**i2 the i#ea not only o* unchangeableness but o* the

utter impossibility o* any change ta>ing place by any means or

acci#ent 5hatever in that 5hich 5e 5oul# honour 5ith the name

o* the or# o* 8o# an# there*ore the or# o* 8o# cannot e2ist inany 5ritten or human language.

he continually progressive change to 5hich the meaning o* 5or#s

is subCect the 5ant o* an universal language 5hich ren#ers

translation necessary the errors to 5hich translations are again

subCect the mista>es o* copyists an# printers together 5ith the

possibility o* 5il*ul alteration are o* themselves evi#ences that

human language 5hether in speech or in print cannot be thevehicle o* the or# o* 8o#. '' he or# o* 8o# e2ists in

something else.41

3i# the boo> calle# the Bible e2cel in purity o* i#eas an#

e2pression all the boo>s no5 e2tant in the 5orl# % 5oul# not ta>e

it *or my rule o* *aith as being the or# o* 8o# because the

possibility 5oul# nevertheless e2ist o* my being impose# upon.

But 5hen % see throughout the greatest part o* this boo> scarcelyanything but a history o* the grossest vices an# a collection o* the

most paltry an# contemptible tales % cannot #ishonour my reator

by calling it by his name.

CHAPTER VIII' &+ 0" 4" ";,"4.


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0 calle# the 4e5

estament. he ne5 estament! that is the $ne5$ ill as i* there

coul# be t5o 5ills o* the reator.

0a# it been the obCect or the intention o* esus hrist to establish a

ne5 religion he 5oul# un#oubte#ly have 5ritten the systemhimsel* or procure# it to be 5ritten in his li*e time. But there is no

publication e2tant authenticate# 5ith his name. ll the boo>s

calle# the 4e5 estament 5ere 5ritten a*ter his #eath. 0e 5as a

e5 by birth an# by pro*ession an# he 5as the son o* 8o# in li>e

manner that every other person is *or the reator is the +ather o*

ll.

he *irst *our boo>s calle# ,atthe5 ,ar> u>e an# ohn #onot give a history o* the li*e o* esus hrist but only #etache#

anec#otes o* him. %t appears *rom these boo>s that the 5hole time

o* his being a preacher 5as not more than eighteen months an# it

5as only #uring this short time that those men became acDuainte#

5ith him. hey ma>e mention o* him at the age o* t5elve years

sitting they say among the e5ish #octors as>ing an# ans5ering

them Duestions. s this 5as several years be*ore their acDuaintance5ith him began it is most probable they ha# this anec#ote *rom his42

parents. +rom this time there is no account o* him *or about si2teen

years. here he live# or ho5 he employe# himsel* #uring this

interval is not >no5n. ,ost probably he 5as 5or>ing at his

*ather$s tra#e 5hich 5as that o* a carpenter. %t #oes not appear that

he ha# any school e#ucation an# the probability is that he coul#

not 5rite *or his parents 5ere e2tremely poor as appears *romtheir not being able to pay *or a be# 5hen he 5as born. G4&":

&ne o* the *e5 errors traceable to Paine$s not having a Bible at

han# 5hile 5riting Part %. here is no in#ication that the *amily

5as poor but the reverse may in *act be in*erre#. '' "#itor.H

%t is some5hat curious that the three persons 5hose names are the


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most universally recor#e# 5ere o* very obscure parentage. ,oses

5as a *oun#ling esus hrist 5as born in a stable an# ,ahomet

5as a mule #river. he *irst an# the last o* these men 5ere

*oun#ers o* #i**erent systems o* religion but esus hrist *oun#e#

no ne5 system. 0e calle# men to the practice o* moral virtues an#the belie* o* one 8o#. he great trait in his character is

philanthropy.

he manner in 5hich he 5as apprehen#e# sho5s that he 5as not

much >no5n at that time an# it sho5s also that the meetings he

then hel# 5ith his *ollo5ers 5ere in secret an# that he ha# given

over or suspen#e# preaching publicly. u#as coul# no other5ays

betray him than by giving in*ormation 5here he 5as an# pointinghim out to the o**icers that 5ent to arrest him an# the reason *or

employing an# paying u#as to #o this coul# arise only *rom the

causes alrea#y mentione# that o* his not being much >no5n an#

living conceale#.

he i#ea o* his concealment not only agrees very ill 5ith his

repute# #ivinity but associates 5ith it something o* pusillanimity

an# his being betraye# or in other 5or#s his being apprehen#e#on the in*ormation o* one o* his *ollo5ers sho5s that he #i# not43

inten# to be apprehen#e# an# conseDuently that he #i# not inten#

to be cruci*ie#.

he hristian mythologists tell us that hrist #ie# *or the sins o*

the 5orl# an# that he came on Purpose to #ie. oul# it not then

have been the same i* he ha# #ie# o* a *ever or o* the small po2 o*

ol# age or o* anything elseKhe #eclaratory sentence 5hich they say 5as passe# upon #am

in case he ate o* the apple 5as not that thou shalt surely be

cruci*ie# but thou shale surely #ie. he sentence 5as #eath an#

not the manner o* #ying. ruci*i2ion there*ore or any other

particular manner o* #ying ma#e no part o* the sentence that


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#am 5as to su**er an# conseDuently even upon their o5n tactic

it coul# ma>e no part o* the sentence that hrist 5as to su**er in

the room o* #am. *ever 5oul# have #one as 5ell as a cross i*

there 5as any occasion *or either.

his sentence o* #eath 5hich they tell us 5as thus passe# upon#am must either have meant #ying naturally that is ceasing to

live or have meant 5hat these mythologists call #amnation an#

conseDuently the act o* #ying on the part o* esus hrist must

accor#ing to their system apply as a prevention to one or other o*

these t5o things happening to #am an# to us.

hat it #oes not prevent our #ying is evi#ent because 5e all #ie

an# i* their accounts o* longevity be true men #ie *aster since thecruci*i2ion than be*ore: an# 5ith respect to the secon# e2planation

(inclu#ing 5ith it the natural #eath o* esus hrist as a substitute

*or the eternal #eath or #amnation o* all man>in#) it is

impertinently representing the reator as coming o** or revo>ing

the sentence by a pun or a Duibble upon the 5or# #eath. hat

manu*acturer o* Duibbles ;t. Paul i* he 5rote the boo>s that bear

his name has helpe# this Duibble on by ma>ing another Duibbleupon the 5or# #am. 0e ma>es there to be t5o #ams the one44

5ho sins in *act an# su**ers by pro2y the other 5ho sins by

pro2y an# su**ers in *act. religion thus interlar#e# 5ith Duibble

subter*uge an# pun has a ten#ency to instruct its pro*essors in the

practice o* these arts. hey acDuire the habit 5ithout being a5are

o* the cause.

%* esus hrist 5as the being 5hich those mythologists tell us he5as an# that he came into this 5orl# to su**er 5hich is a 5or#

they sometimes use instea# o* $to #ie$ the only real su**ering he

coul# have en#ure# 5oul# have been $to live.$ 0is e2istence here

5as a state o* e2ilement or transportation *rom heaven an# the

5ay bac> to his original country 5as to #ie. '' %n *ine everything


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in this strange system is the reverse o* 5hat it preten#s to be. %t is

the reverse o* truth an# % become so tire# o* e2amining into its

inconsistencies an# absur#ities that % hasten to the conclusion o* it

in or#er to procee# to something better.

0o5 much or 5hat parts o* the boo>s calle# the 4e5 estament5ere 5ritten by the persons 5hose names they bear is 5hat 5e

can >no5 nothing o* neither are 5e certain in 5hat language they

5ere originally 5ritten. he matters they no5 contain may be

classe# un#er t5o hea#s: anec#ote an# epistolary correspon#ence.

he *our boo>s alrea#y mentione# ,atthe5 ,ar> u>e an#

ohn are altogether anec#otal. hey relate events a*ter they ha#

ta>en place. hey tell 5hat esus hrist #i# an# sai# an# 5hatothers #i# an# sai# to him an# in several instances they relate the

same event #i**erently. -evelation is necessarily out o* the

Duestion 5ith respect to those boo>s not only because o* the

#isagreement o* the 5riters but because revelation cannot be

applie# to the relating o* *acts by the persons 5ho sa5 them #one

nor to the relating or recor#ing o* any #iscourse or conversation by

those 5ho hear# it. he boo> calle# the cts o* the postles (ananonymous 5or>) belongs also to the anec#otal part.45

ll the other parts o* the 4e5 estament e2cept the boo> o*

enigmas calle# the -evelations are a collection o* letters un#er

the name o* epistles an# the *orgery o* letters has been such a

common practice in the 5orl# that the probability is at least eDual

5hether they are genuine or *orge#. &ne thing ho5ever is much

less eDuivocal 5hich is that out o* the matters containe# in thoseboo>s together 5ith the assistance o* some ol# stories the church

has set up a system o* religion very contra#ictory to the character

o* the person 5hose name it bears. %t has set up a religion o* pomp

an# o* revenue in preten#e# imitation o* a person 5hose li*e 5as

humility an# poverty.


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he invention o* a purgatory an# o* the releasing o* souls

there*rom by prayers bought o* the church 5ith money the

selling o* par#ons #ispensations an# in#ulgences are revenue

la5s 5ithout bearing that name or carrying that appearance. But

the case nevertheless is that those things #erive their origin *romthe pro2ysm o* the cruci*i2ion an# the theory #e#uce# there*rom

5hich 5as that one person coul# stan# in the place o* another an#

coul# per*orm meritorious services *or him. he probability

there*ore is that the 5hole theory or #octrine o* 5hat is calle# the

re#emption (5hich is sai# to have been accomplishe# by the act o*

one person in the room o* another) 5as originally *abricate# on

purpose to bring *or5ar# an# buil# all those secon#ary an#pecuniary re#emptions upon an# that the passages in the boo>s

upon 5hich the i#ea o* theory o* re#emption is built have been

manu*acture# an# *abricate# *or that purpose. hy are 5e to give

this church cre#it 5hen she tells us that those boo>s are genuine in

every part any more than 5e give her cre#it *or everything else

she has tol# us or *or the miracles she says she has per*orme#K

hat she coul# *abricate 5ritings is certain because she coul#5rite an# the composition o* the 5ritings in Duestion is o* that46

>in# that anybo#y might #o it an# that she #i# *abricate them is

not more inconsistent 5ith probability than that she shoul# tell us

as she has #one that she coul# an# #i# 5or> miracles.

;ince then no e2ternal evi#ence can at this long #istance o* time

be pro#uce# to prove 5hether the church *abricate# the #octrine

calle# re#emption or not (*or such evi#ence 5hether *or oragainst 5oul# be subCect to the same suspicion o* being

*abricate#) the case can only be re*erre# to the internal evi#ence

5hich the thing carries o* itsel* an# this a**or#s a very strong

presumption o* its being a *abrication. +or the internal evi#ence is

that the theory or #octrine o* re#emption has *or its basis an i#ea o*


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pecuniary Custice an# not that o* moral Custice.

%* % o5e a person money an# cannot pay him an# he threatens to

put me in prison another person can ta>e the #ebt upon himsel*

an# pay it *or me. But i* % have committe# a crime every

circumstance o* the case is change#. ,oral Custice cannot ta>e theinnocent *or the guilty even i* the innocent 5oul# o**er itsel*. o

suppose Custice to #o this is to #estroy the principle o* its

e2istence 5hich is the thingitsel*. %t is then no longer Custice. %t is

in#iscriminate revenge.

his single re*lection 5ill sho5 that the #octrine o* re#emption is

*oun#e# on a mere pecuniary i#ea correspon#ing to that o* a #ebt

5hich another person might pay a

Age of Reason Thomas Paine

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