Comments on: Demonizing Thomas Paine http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/13/demonizing-thomas-paine/ Life. Liberty. Property. Defending individual freedom and liberty, one post at a time. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:42:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dan Winkelman http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/13/demonizing-thomas-paine/#comment-11145 Dan Winkelman Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:08:40 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/13/demonizing-thomas-paine/#comment-11145 I'm an evangelical Christian, and happen to have a lot of respect for both Paine and Jefferson. In fact, I quote both of them regularly in support of liberty and smaller government. The key thing here is keeping church and state separate in an appropriate way. I agree with these Founding Fathers that religion shouldn't be running our government, nor should our government be running our religion. Do I agree with everything Paine ever said? No. But that doesn't mean that everything he stated was bunk. He made some very good points with regard to liberty and governance. I’m an evangelical Christian, and happen to have a lot of respect for both Paine and Jefferson. In fact, I quote both of them regularly in support of liberty and smaller government.

The key thing here is keeping church and state separate in an appropriate way. I agree with these Founding Fathers that religion shouldn’t be running our government, nor should our government be running our religion. Do I agree with everything Paine ever said? No. But that doesn’t mean that everything he stated was bunk. He made some very good points with regard to liberty and governance.

]]> By: Adam http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/13/demonizing-thomas-paine/#comment-11099 Adam Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:05:28 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/13/demonizing-thomas-paine/#comment-11099 This is nothing new, Paine was attacked for his beliefs in America and ended up fleeing to France, later publishing his "Rights of Man" I believe. He was not "anti-God," like many believe, and if those many would actually read his writing, they'd find Paine believed in a God solely on the creation he saw around him. This is nothing new, Paine was attacked for his beliefs in America and ended up fleeing to France, later publishing his “Rights of Man” I believe. He was not “anti-God,” like many believe, and if those many would actually read his writing, they’d find Paine believed in a God solely on the creation he saw around him.

]]> By: Adam Selene http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/13/demonizing-thomas-paine/#comment-11086 Adam Selene Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:25:34 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/13/demonizing-thomas-paine/#comment-11086 <blockquote>Of course, something tells me that the Evangelical Right doesn’t much like Mr. Jefferson either.</blockquote> Even today, the evangelical right doesn't feel they have what it takes to assault the demi-god stature of Jefferson. But Paine, who was probably the single most important thinker on the Revolutionary side, they feel safe in assaulting. Sad, but true.

Of course, something tells me that the Evangelical Right doesn’t much like Mr. Jefferson either.

Even today, the evangelical right doesn’t feel they have what it takes to assault the demi-god stature of Jefferson. But Paine, who was probably the single most important thinker on the Revolutionary side, they feel safe in assaulting. Sad, but true.

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