that Thomas Paine was shunned by the masses ....... before I could address that idea properly.
He was invited to come to America by Benjamen Franklin. His ideas were highly inspirational to the founding Fathers of America -enough for them to include them in the Declaration of Independence. Here's a small excerpt
from this website ........
[ In Common Sense he argues that a manifesto be published which could be sent to other nations and would tell why America was forced to break ties with Britain. The causes which impel the separation are proclaimed in Common Sense.
On 11th June 1776 Congress voted for such a document. A committee of five was appointed but at the last moment one was obliged to answer a call to his home and Jefferson took his place. Paine produced a draft, of which the John Adams family still retains a copy. This carries a clause to end slavery and this clause was omitted from the Declaration. Had it been included, the Civil War, ninety years later, would not have been fought. Why was this clause significant? Because slavery appalled Paine but Jefferson, at his death, still owned 200 slaves and any draft from him would not have included this clause.
The phrasing in the draft and the peculiar use of capitals and the spelling of words brand it as the work of Thomas Paine. It was condensed, mutilated and then submitted to Congress by the chairman of the Committee, Thomas Jefferson. It is far easier to modify a draft on hand than to start with blank paper and, in twenty days, produce such a Declaration of Independence.
It was typical of the integrity of Paine that he never openly claimed the credit, although it was hinted.]
Was he hated by the masses? It's not improbable ..... since he was smeared by the clergy. When a President refers to someone as a "filthy little atheist" without bothering to mention anything about the man's work, his true beliefs or his contributions to the country (which were plagiarized and enshrined in the U.S. Constitution) ....... the public has ALWAYS been quick to gullibly accept such pronouncements. Of course, the same is said about the sacred Jesus Christ as well ...... so it's really a non sequitur to the discussion to throw in public opinion when that opinion is uninformed.
Paine wasn't an atheist. I know he's a hero to atheists and the website I quoted from appears to be an atheist website. That doesn't matter to me. I don't judge statements first and foremost by source but rather, by their intrinsic merit.
I would have to say that my own belief(s) about God are very close to Paine's ..... without ever having known about his, beforehand and without having been influenced by his writings to believe that way. He apparently believed in ONE God whereas I'm not convinced of that myself. But it really doesn't matter to me one way or another WHAT people believe about God .... as long as it produces fruits of righteousness.
-Vince
