# How does The Age of Reason develop the theme of Critique of Organized Religion?

> The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine

## Answer

The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine develops Critique of Organized Religion across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The book condemns national churches and priesthoods as human inventions designed to terrify, enslave, and monopolize power and profit, rather than promote genuine morality.

Paine denounces all established churches as human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, monopolizing power and profit.

Paine denounces all national churches as human inventions to terrify, enslave, and monopolize power and profit, and condemns the 'adulterous connection of church and state.'

Paine attacks national churches for claiming special missions and for adapting pagan mythology to maintain power and revenue.

## Evidence

- [the-age-of-reason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/the-age-of-reason.md): Paine denounces all established churches as human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, monopolizing power and profit.
- [part-i-i-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): Paine denounces all national churches as human inventions to terrify, enslave, and monopolize power and profit, and condemns the 'adulterous connection of church and state.'
- [part-i-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 attacks national churches for claiming special missions and for adapting pagan mythology to maintain power and revenue.
- [part-i-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 attacks the priesthood and the fraudulent origins of Christian narratives, accusing them of imposing belief without proof.
- [part-i-iv-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): Paine attacks the Christian Church as mythologists who fabricate absurd stories, equating their narratives with pagan mythology.
- [part-i-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): Paine attacks the Christian story of Satan and redemption as absurd and derogatory to God.
- [part-i-vi-of-the-true-theology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-vi-of-the-true-theology.md): Paine criticizes the Christian church for promoting a gloomy, sacrificial theology that he sees as an insult to the Creator, and he notes the growing suspicion that church doctrine is fabulous.
- [part-i-viii-of-the-new-testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-viii-of-the-new-testament.md): Paine attacks the church's fabrication of doctrines like redemption and purgatory for financial gain.

## Links

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