# The Age of Reason — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine.

- [Editor's Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/editor-s-introduction.md): Moncure Daniel Conway's introduction provides historical context for Paine's 'The Age of Reason', discussing the circumstances of its composition, Paine's early intentions to write on religion, his astronomical interests
- [The Age of Reason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/the-age-of-reason.md): Thomas Paine introduces his work as an investigation of true and fabulous theology, declaring his intention to examine the Bible and Christian doctrine critically. He professes his belief in one God and hopes for happine
- [The Author's Profession of Faith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-i-the-author-s-profession-of-faith.md): Thomas Paine explains his long-held intention to publish his thoughts on religion, precipitated by the French Revolution's abolition of the priesthood. He professes his deist faith: belief in one God, equality of man, an
- [II: Of Missions and Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-ii-of-missions-and-revelations.md): Paine argues that all national religions claim a special divine mission, but that revelation is only valid for the first recipient; all subsequent accounts are hearsay. He critiques the stories of Moses, Jesus, and Muham
- [III: Concerning the Character of Jesus Christ, and His History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-iii-concerning-the-character-of-jesus-christ-and-his-history.md): Paine distinguishes between the historical Jesus, whom he praises as a virtuous and amiable moral teacher, and the supernatural narratives of the New Testament, which he argues are fraudulent. He contends that the accoun

> 27 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_age_of_reason_se_665kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Of the Bases of Christianity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-iv-of-the-bases-of-christianity.md)
- [V: Examination in Detail of the Preceding Bases](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-v-examination-in-detail-of-the-preceding-bases.md)
- [VI: Of the True Theology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-vi-of-the-true-theology.md)
- [VII: Examination of the Old Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-vii-examination-of-the-old-testament.md)
- [VIII: Of the New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-viii-of-the-new-testament.md)
- [IX: In What the True Revelation Consists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-ix-in-what-the-true-revelation-consists.md)
- [X: Concerning God, and the Lights Cast on His Existence and Attributes by the Bible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-x-concerning-god-and-the-lights-cast-on-his-existence-and-attributes-by-the-bible.md)
- [XI: Of the Theology of the Christians; and the True Theology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xi-of-the-theology-of-the-christians-and-the-true-theology.md)
- [XII: The Effects of Christianism on Education; Proposed Reforms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xii-the-effects-of-christianism-on-education-proposed-reforms.md)
- [XIII: Comparison of Christianism with the Religious Ideas Inspired by Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-comparison-of-christianism-with-the-religious-ideas-inspired-by-nature.md)
- [System of the Universe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-system-of-the-universe.md)
- [XV: Advantages of the Existence of Many Worlds in Each Solar System](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xv-advantages-of-the-existence-of-many-worlds-in-each-solar-system.md)
- [XVI: Application of the Preceding to the System of the Christians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-application-of-the-preceding-to-the-system-of-the-christians.md)
- [XVII: Of the Means Employed in All Time, and Almost Universally, to Deceive the Peoples](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-of-the-means-employed-in-all-time-and-almost-universally-to-deceive-the-peoples.md)
- [Recapitulation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-recapitulation.md)
- [I: The Old Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-old-testament.md)
- [II: The New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-the-new-testament.md)
- [III: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-conclusion.md)
- [To the Ministers and Preachers of All Denominations of Religion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-to-the-ministers-and-preachers-of-all-denominations-of-religion.md)
- [An Essay on Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-an-essay-on-dreams.md)
- [An Examination of the Passages in the New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-an-examination-of-the-passages-in-the-new-testament.md)
- [The Book of Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-mark.md)
- [The Book of Luke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-luke.md)
- [The Book of John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-john.md)
- [Contradictory Doctrines Between Matthew and Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-contradictory-doctrines-between-matthew-and-mark.md)
- [Private Thoughts of a Future State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-private-thoughts-of-a-future-state.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters