Paine’s own words

To the editor:

Mr. Miller (Public Forum, July 12), have you ever read a single word by Thomas Paine? Obviously, not. Your theories about Mr. Paine’s Christian beliefs are ludicrous.

“I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.

“I believe in the equality of man, and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy and endeavouring to make our fellow creatures happy. …

“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.

“All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.”

This is from “The Age of Reason.” You might read it sometime. People, if you want to learn about Thomas Paine, read his pamphlets yourself. Judge for yourself. Saying Thomas Paine was a Christian and not a deist is ridiculous. Get your facts right.

To conclude, also from “Age of Reason:” “Adam, if ever there was such a man, was created a Deist; but in the mean time, let every man follow, as he has a right to do, the religion and worship he prefers.”

The worst part of this is Mr. Miller probably got an A in American history.