# Jonah — The Age of Reason character guide

> Jonah in The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0008-part-i-vii-examination-of-the-old-testament

## Who they are

Biblical prophet whose story is used to illustrate absurdities in scripture.

## In the story

### [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)

Mentioned in the story of the whale swallowing Jonah, used as an example to critique miracles.

### [I: The Old Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-old-testament)

His book is cited as ending with a strong point against prophets and intolerant judgments.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/endnotes)

Book of Jonah treated with dignity by Paine; editor notes Paine's high conception of Deity in the story.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/jonah
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters