Age of Reason

Thomas Paine's years of study and reflection on the place of religion in society led him to write the influential pamphlet, The Age of Reason. In it, he wrote, “Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst; every other species of tyranny is limited to the world we live in, but this attempts to stride beyond the grave, and seeks to pursue us into eternity. ” This statement encourages religious tolerance by presenting a reason for rejecting organized religion and considering oneself free of religious dogma.