3 Review(s)

Challenging the institutionalized religion and legitimacy of the Bible, The Age of Reason was Paine'syears of study and reflection on the role of religion in society. His arguments had long been availableto the educated elite, but by presenting them in an engaging and irreverent style, he made deismappealing and accessible to the masses. Originally distributed as unbound pamphlets, the book wascheap in order to put it within the reach of a large number of buyers. Fearing the spread of whatwere potentially revolutionary ideas, the British government prosecuted printers and booksellerswho were associated with its publication and reach. However, even through that, The Age of Reasonsurpassed the boundaries of the religious agendas throughout the world at the dawn of the nineteenthcentury, and its resonance remains undiminished by time.In this influential and controversial work, Paine criticized organized religion as power hungry andcorrupt and advocated for religious tolerance and freedom of thought. Accessible, clever, humorousand far ahead of its time, The Age of Reason continues to resonate with readers today.