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| | Paine remained in France until 1802 when he returned to America on an invitation from [[Thomas Jefferson]]. Paine discovered that his contributions to the American Revolution had been all but eradicated due to his religious views. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends, he died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/paine/ Thomas Paine.]</ref> Once a celebrated figure, his funeral was only attended by six people.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ybpbAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 Thomas Paine: Political Activist and Author]</ref> | | Paine remained in France until 1802 when he returned to America on an invitation from [[Thomas Jefferson]]. Paine discovered that his contributions to the American Revolution had been all but eradicated due to his religious views. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends, he died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/paine/ Thomas Paine.]</ref> Once a celebrated figure, his funeral was only attended by six people.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ybpbAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 Thomas Paine: Political Activist and Author]</ref> |
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| − | ==Views on Religion== | + | ==Views on Religion and Religious Liberty== |
| | Paine was the son of an [[Anglican]] and a [[Quaker]], and grew to become a devout [[Deist]]. Paine was skeptical about miracles in [[Christianity]], and became an opponent of the [[Bible]]. Thirty years after his successful ''Common Sense'' he published ''The Age of Reason'' (1807),<ref>The first part was written earlier, in 1794.</ref> in which he asserts that organized religions, including Christianity, are frauds. | | Paine was the son of an [[Anglican]] and a [[Quaker]], and grew to become a devout [[Deist]]. Paine was skeptical about miracles in [[Christianity]], and became an opponent of the [[Bible]]. Thirty years after his successful ''Common Sense'' he published ''The Age of Reason'' (1807),<ref>The first part was written earlier, in 1794.</ref> in which he asserts that organized religions, including Christianity, are frauds. |
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| | But Thomas Paine vigorously defended freedom of religion: | | But Thomas Paine vigorously defended freedom of religion: |
| − | {{cquote|I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.<ref name="Age of Reason">The Age of Reason, Pt. 1, 1794 [http://god-and-country.info/TPaine.html]</ref> | + | {{cquote|I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.<ref name="Age of Reason">The Age of Reason, Pt. 1, 1794 [http://god-and-country.info/TPaine.html]</ref>}} |
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| | Paine's best-selling ''The Age of Reason'' caused a brief revival of [[Deism]] in the [[United States]], but without lasting effect. He ultimately fell into disfavor due to his intemperate attacks on religion. | | Paine's best-selling ''The Age of Reason'' caused a brief revival of [[Deism]] in the [[United States]], but without lasting effect. He ultimately fell into disfavor due to his intemperate attacks on religion. |