The Age of Reason: Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology Audiobook

" This book perfectly reflects my religious beliefs. "

" Paine utilizes what he considers pure reason to tear apart the Bible, and therefore Christianity, while arguing for the precepts of Deism. I found it interesting that through the past two hundred years, biblical scholars have similarly struggled with the Bible's inconsistencies and unknown authorship, however, they have not thrown out the baby with the bath-water, as Paine does. His arguments for Deism are strong and appealing, although I'm not convinced that the witnessing of the world/universe can only lead to belief in a creator-God. Maybe his application of reason has some failings, yet. "

" Perhaps a timely read or re-read for the new millennium. "

" Paine does a quite convincing job in debunking the Bible (as he calls only the Old Testament) and New Testament as any revelation or word of god, let alone a contemporaneous historical account of the times, by underscoring inconsistencies within the texts themselves to contest their authenticity of authorship, and thereby their reliability. He attributes many of the biblical stories to being merely old fables recast to suit the purposes of the authors. However, his treatment of this matter is overly simplistic and fails to appreciate (albeit understandably) the important role of these underlying mythologies in the evolution of our culture and, especially, psychology; although, to be fair, that's admittedly beyond the scope of what he set out to achieve, which has more to do with authenticity than utility. Finally, it is ironic that Paine strongly affirms his Deist faith in a Creator and a life hereafter, yet on the slimmest of premises: he cannot otherwise rationally explain how the universe may have come to be. One wonders whether he would still profess this faith were he alive today, given advances in scientific understanding in the more than two centuries since he wrote his treatise. "

" I like this book and appreciate Mr. Paine's insights into the questions of how God works and how religion says God works. I will explore more from this author who lived in in the 1700's. So many books; so little time. "

" One damn cocky attack on The Bible. It was entertaining, and I agreed with much of what he says, but the idea that people cannot explain the inaccuracies of The Bible misses the point. If studying the Mormon faith has taught me anything, it's that people need no reason whatsoever to believe what they do. All the facts in the world will not change a stubborn mind, especially since it seems that we're pre-wired for some kind of religious leaning. "

" A call for the people of the late 18th century to pure deism and a refutation of revealed religions. Paine goes to great lengths to disprove the authenticity of the Bible and the monstrosity of the prophets and the gospel. "

" I really like this so far. Paine describes himself as basically a deist, not a theist. In the first part (which I'm currently reading), he picks apart mostly the Old and New Testaments of the Bible brilliantly. "

" A brilliant book. Dissection at it's best. This should be given away for free! "

" Read it if you dare.....if your religious beliefs are easily offended avoid this book like the plague! "

" So far, it sums up all the notions I've had independently on the topic of organized religion. "

" A passionate defense of Deism that I found more persuasive than his European contemporaries (Voltaire, Rousseau, etc.) "

" Anybody who believes in democracy should read this. Payne the great agitator was instrumental in the US declaring independence from Britain. his writings are still valuable today. "

" Has become my new bible. Brilliant in its arguments against organized religion. A must read. "

" The first book in this is brilliant, concise, well thought out, and (as it does matter) agreeable. The second part was repeatative and a bit slow at parts, but overall I would recommend this book to people. "

" The opening salvo in my gradual awareness of the illogicality of organized religion. Life changing in the extreme. "

" Great book, but ... well... life everywhere in outer space??? But then, how could he know??? "

" Finished part one and loved every word of it, but part two is not even worth reading. "

" A refreshing veiw of a remarkable period of history. Years and years of religious oppression has given birth to an awakening of thought outside of dogma. Thomas Paine was a true revolutionary and an inspired leader in exposing the tyrrany of religious slavery. "

" There is no good reason why this should not be included in any school curriculum. Everyone should read this. "

" Amazing that a piece this old can be so up to the minute. Very thought provoking indeed. "

" Thomas Paine is the only theologian that matters. "

" This is to atheism as On The Origin of Species is to evolution. A complete deconstruction of the old and new testaments. Read and believe no more. Irresistibly written for the common man of the time. "