Paine’s arguments in his treatise The Age of Reason are transparent and objective, to my thinking. For instance, in the book’s first pages, Paine states that he believes in God (4). He does not believe in the creed of various churches and their revelations, emphasizing that “my mind is my own church” (Paine 5). The author’s beliefs are understandable because I do not follow a path of faith suggested by any of the churches, personally. I believe in God, but it becomes difficult with so many different religions that emerged over centuries that all name God differently and provide diverse views of God’s image. In addition, Paine mentions the various revelations frequently, saying that we have no “external evidence or authority for believing these books to be the word of God” (16). I believe that is true because the plurality of those revelations and the differences between their contents prove that there is no veritable “word of God.” From my perspective, there is only one God who has a unique way of communicating with every one of us.
As for Franklin’s advice to Paine not to publish his work, I do not think it was right, but I cannot argue that it was reasonable. Paine himself understands that the subject involved in his work is highly complex (4). Any questions regarding religion and churches are intricate, and it is often perilous to discuss them. It may offend some people’s feelings or beliefs, which can bring unpleasant or even dangerous consequences. Therefore, deciding to start such deliberation should consider the risks, and it is wise to be very careful while expressing thoughts and opinions openly.
Work Cited
Paine, Thomas. The Age of Reason. Citadel Press, 1998.