Page "The Age of Reason" Paragraph 33

Paine's Age of Reason sparked enough anger in Britain to initiate not only a series of government prosecutions but also a pamphlet war.

Around 50 unfavorable replies appeared between 1795 and 1799 alone and refutations were still being published in 1812.

Many of these responded specifically to Paine's attack on the Bible in Part II ( when Thomas Williams was prosecuted for printing Part II, it became clear its circulation had far exceeded that of Part I ).

Although critics responded to Paine's analysis of the Bible, they did not usually address his specific arguments.

Instead, they advocated a literal reading of the Bible, citing the Bible's long history as evidence of its authority.

They also issued ad hominem attacks against Paine, describing him " as an enemy of proper thought and of the morality of decent, enlightened people ".

Dissenters such as Joseph Priestley who had endorsed the arguments of the Rights of Man turned away from those presented in The Age of Reason.

Even the liberal Analytical Review was skeptical of Paine's claims and distanced itself from the book.

Paine's deism was simply too radical for these more moderate reformers and they feared being tarred with the brush of extremism.