Kuhiro Class Reading Circle

“I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.” — Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason

In The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine argues that religion should be examined through reason rather than accepted through tradition or authority. He critiques organized religion by questioning why divine truth would depend on institutions, conflicting interpretations, or mediation by religious authority. Instead, he suggests that the natural world itself serves as evidence of a creator, and that human reason is the most reliable tool for understanding moral and spiritual truths. Paine also treats sacred texts as human-written documents shaped by historical and cultural contexts, and therefore open to scrutiny like any other form of writing. Overall, the text engages with questions of religion, reason, and belief, and presents deism as a framework in which belief in God is guided by reason rather than revelation or institutional authority.

Kindly head over to the Kuhiro Class Reading Circle Google Classroom to access the text.

Looking forward to hearing different perspectives on this week’s reading here in Chautara.