Download PDF The Age of Reason eBook Thomas Paine

Product details File Size 485 KB Print Length 102 pages Publisher E-Kitap Projesi & Cheapest Books; 1 edition (March 24, 2019) Publication Date March 24, 2019 Sold by  Digital Services LLC Language English ASIN B07Q17Z9CG

The Age of Reason eBook Thomas Paine Reviews

• I'm assuming that if one is looking at reviews of the Age of Reason, they already know what it is about, and are looking for information about whether *this* edition is a worthy candidate. So, let me say right up front yes, it is. -) This is an excellent version of this classic.
  
  Some may not know that Thomas Paine wrote at least part of the Age of Reason while in prison, imprisoned in France by the French revolutionaries. It is thought by some that he only escaped being executed because of a clerical error (the cell door sign marking him as bound for the guillotine being misplaced); he was released after James Monroe pulled some strings for him.
  
  Paine was a deist, and did not observe a particular doctrine or align himself with a particular church (the dictionary defines 'deist' as "A deist believes there is a God who created all things, but does not believe in His superintendence and government."). In the Age of Reason Paine makes the case *against* organized religion, and even the bible, arguing for a more rational explanation for the order of things, while still acknowledging the existence of a creator.
  
  For example, he says "The most extraordinary of all the things called miracles, related in the New Testament, is that of the devil flying away with Jesus Christ, and carrying him to the top of a high mountain, and to the top of the highest pinnacle of the temple, and showing him and promising to him all the kingdoms of the World. How happened it that he did not discover America, or is it only with kingdoms that his sooty highness has any interest?"
  
  Words sure to get the religious powers that were in a knot!
  
  In our current age, of unreasonableness to the extreme, especially religious unreasonableness and intolerance, we definitely need a bit more reason. The Age of Reason is as timely today as it was back when it was first released.
• I'd read the book on pdf recently, total game changer for me, and because of how much I loved it I decided to have a hard copy of it. This print job is a mess, it looks like it was photocopied, typical photocopied dark pages, hard to read and hard to make any highlights. A total botched job.
• A brilliant work that reads almost like a modern piece of writing. The sheer scope of evidence offered as well as the arguments presented make this a must-read for anyone who seriously contemplates the role of religion and belief in our scoiety. I would suggest this as a must read for everyone preparing for a life in the religious sector - whether minister or priest or rabbi or imam. These are not necessarily individual arguments that need to be addressed (though they are pretty staggering as such); but taken as a whole, a truly "person of faith" needs to explain (to himself, if no one else) how these items Paine presents fit into the beliefs held so strongly.
• A historical political treatise on government in general up to his era and especially in defining government wholly based upon the inherent rights of all men, the populace of an area to whom he refers to as a nation via a document i.e., a constitution, drafted not by any governing body but by representatives of the "nation" and ratified by the people who comprise the nation, which defines the authorities of and restrictions on the government said constitution authorizes. Mr. Paine espouses a seminal work necessary in the political arena but also writes a bit naively as to the application of the said system of government by not taking into account human nature. I do not believe a man can create any system that will systematically prevent man's desires for wealth and power to not come to fruition of any man-made system. While some system may be devised to prevent corruption via one man the same system, with a number of men who are just as corruptable within it, is prone to failing to achieve its high design.
  
  This scenario may be seen in the actual forms of the republican i.e, constitutional approach and the various Marxist's communist approach that exist today. In our American constitutional method offices exist today in a form that was not allowed for or, naively, expected by the drafters of our system. This is seen in the offices of Representatives and Senators who earn an annual salary, pension, and medical privileges. Originally, as is indicated in Mr. Paine's work and elsewhere, permanent office and amenities were a luxury afforded officers of a monarchy's court. In the American system, it was expected, though not defined in writing, which was a serious mistake, that representatives and Senators served of their own accord, yes, elected by the people, and only compensated for their expenses, not a substantial income. It was may also be seen that it was thought and expected, though not defined in writing, that representation in both houses would naturally rotate from citizen to citizen and not produce life-time political positions with a pension and full medical care. The position of president was the only office for which annual compensation was expected and allowed and even that position was not allowed or expected to receive any type of a pension. These are not the only alterations to the system initially devised. They are just some of the most obvious.
  
  A similar process occurred in the various applications of Marx's communist system, which in its present form operates almost identically to a monarchical government, creating some of the worst tyrannical dictatorial systems man has yet known. Of course, communist systems do not look like the opulent monarchical system but opulence is the only difference. In present-day communism there is just as much class structure as ever there was in any monarchical system of government. It is not the single man that must be prevented from exercising corruption, it is an alliance of men hell-bent on exercising corruption that must, somehow, be prevented in any ideological system man might create.
• For those who would love a good, thoughtful, intelligent and logical take on the Bible, this is a hoot to read. As someone who studies religion but doesn't have one to call her own, this book will provide hours of excellent, thoughtful prose. And a great deal of laughter.
• Paine's Rights of Man offers many of his observations about the nature of freedom and government. It is largely a repudiation of Burke's divine right of Kings. Paine delves into painstaking detail on particulars of the English system of Monarchy and Paine's disdain of the Parliamentary system, both as to the deficiency of its representative system in the House of Commons and the tyranny and entitlement of the House of Lords. Numerous pages are devoted to now irrelevant analysis of taxes and expenditures that are quite boring and can be quickly scanned. Plenty of insights about the role of government and the Rights of Man permeate the early part of the book. Not my favorite of Paine's writings, there are frankly more fruitful books to read.