The Age of Reason highlighted what Thomas Paine saw as the corruption of the Christian Church and its efforts to acquire political power. He found both new and old testaments unreasonable and could not see a logical, coherent relationship between man and God. He did what we so often do (created our own God) and advocated for reason over revelation and rejected the idea of miracles. Effectively he created a God that worked for him. As you might expect, Paine produces a compelling series of arguments. This is all the more reason to be cautious before accepting his ideas and making them your own– just because it’s a compelling argument made by a man of great stature doesn’t make it true.