# Satan — The Age of Reason character guide

> Satan 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 adversary discussed in the context of Christian theology.

## In the story

### [Of the Bases of Christianity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-iv-of-the-bases-of-christianity)

Central figure in Christian mythology, depicted as making war against the Almighty, being confined, then released to tempt Eve.

### [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)

Portrayed in the Christian story as having power equal to or greater than the Almighty, and as being omnipresent after his fall.

### [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)

Referenced as the devil in the miracle of taking Jesus to a high mountain; Paine questions the credibility of such accounts.

### [An Essay on Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-an-essay-on-dreams)

Mentioned as the alternative instigator in the conflicting biblical accounts of David's census.

## Links

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