The Age of Reason · Chapter
X: Concerning God, and the Lights Cast on His Existence and Attributes by the Bible explained
Paine argues that the only idea of God is as a first cause, discovered through reason and the evidence of creation, not through the Bible.
What happens
Paine argues that the only idea of God is as a first cause, discovered through reason and the evidence of creation, not through the Bible. He praises Job and the 19th Psalm as true deistical compositions that treat of God through his works, and contrasts them with the New Testament writings, which he finds lacking in conveying any idea of God.
Themes in this chapter
Deism and Natural Theology
Paine emphasizes that God is known through reason and the book of creation, not through scripture, citing Job and Psalm 19 as deistical compositions.
Reason vs. Revelation
Paine asserts that reason alone can discover God's existence, while revelation (as in the Bible) is insufficient and often misleading.
Characters to notice
- Thomas Paine
Author and narrator; argues for reason as the means to discover God and criticizes the Bible's portrayal of God.
- Jesus Christ
Mentioned for his saying 'Behold the lilies of the field' as a modest reference to the works of God.
- Job
Quoted for passages that deduce God's existence and attributes from creation.
Key passages
“The only idea man can affix to the name of God, is that of a first cause, the cause of all things.”
The only concept we can attach to God is that of a first cause, the origin of everything.
Paine defines God as the first cause, discoverable through reason.
“It is only by the exercise of reason, that man can discover God. Take away that reason, and he would be incapable of understanding anything; and in this case it would be just as consistent to read even the book called the Bible to a horse as to a man.”
Only through reason can we find God; without it, we are no better than animals, and reading the Bible to a horse would make as much sense.
Paine argues that reason is essential for understanding God, and the Bible is useless without it.
“Almost the only parts in the book called the Bible, that convey to us any idea of God, are some chapters in Job, and the 19th Psalm; I recollect no other. Those parts are true deistical compositions; for they treat of the Deity through his works.”
The only biblical passages that give us any idea of God are parts of Job and Psalm 19, which are deistic because they describe God through his creation.
Paine praises Job and Psalm 19 as examples of natural theology.