# Reason vs. Revelation in The Age of Reason

> Theme guide for The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine.

Paine argues that true religion is based on reason and the observable creation, not on claimed revelations, miracles, or mysterious doctrines found in scripture.

## Where it surfaces

- [The Age of Reason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/the-age-of-reason): Paine contrasts his own deist faith, based on reason and the creation, with the claimed revelations of the Bible.
- [II: Of Missions and Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-ii-of-missions-and-revelations): Paine contrasts reason with the hearsay nature of revelation, arguing that only firsthand divine communication can be considered revelation.
- [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): Paine applies reason to critique the resurrection story, demanding public evidence for supernatural claims and rejecting hearsay.
- [Of the Bases of Christianity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-iv-of-the-bases-of-christianity): Paine uses reason to deconstruct the Christian fable, highlighting its inconsistencies and reliance on earlier myths.
- [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): Paine contrasts rational examination with the credulity induced by religious education and emotional enthusiasm.
- [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): Paine distinguishes between true revelation (direct divine communication) and the Bible's historical tales, which he deems hearsay.
- [VIII: Of the New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-viii-of-the-new-testament): Paine argues that revelation cannot apply to anecdotal accounts and that reason is the true gift from God.
- [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): Paine asserts that reason alone can discover God's existence, while revelation (as in the Bible) is insufficient and often misleading.
- [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): Paine argues that Christian theology puts reason into shade, while true theology is based on reason and observation of the universe.
- [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): Paine relies on reason and observation of nature to challenge revealed Christian doctrines.
- [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): Paine contrasts the evidence of creation accessible to reason with the absurdities of Christian revelation.
- [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): Paine contrasts true religion based on reason and moral truth with the deceptive use of mystery, miracle, and prophecy in revealed religions.
- [I: The Old Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-old-testament): Paine insists that reason and moral judgment must be used to evaluate the Bible, rather than accepting it on faith or tradition.
- [II: The New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-the-new-testament): Paine contrasts rational analysis with the miraculous claims of the New Testament, advocating for deism based on reason.
- [III: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-conclusion): Paine contrasts the immutable laws of science and reason with the 'invented thing' of revealed religion, asserting that truth prevails when opinions are free.
- [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): Paine urges the use of reason over blind faith in prophecies and scripture, calling for a right use of God-given reason.
- [An Essay on Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-an-essay-on-dreams): Paine contrasts rational understanding of dreams with the biblical reliance on dreams as divine revelation.
- [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): Paine urges readers to trust their own reason over fables and dreams presented as revelation.
- [The Book of Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-mark): Paine uses rational analysis to debunk the prophetic claims and miracles in Mark.
- [The Book of Luke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-luke): Paine applies rational analysis to expose inconsistencies in the Gospel narratives, favoring reason over blind faith.
- [The Book of John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-john): Paine contrasts the universal, self-evident truths of reason and nature with the dubious, hearsay-based claims of revealed religion.
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/endnotes): Paine's rational analysis of biblical texts is underscored by editorial comments on the unreliability of scriptural transmission.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/themes/reason_vs_revelation
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/themes