Paine in the @$$

"Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing." - Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine rocks. Were it not for him and his writings, the United States of America would not exist - in fact, he coined the term. He, like most if not all the Founding Fathers, was a Deist. His most famous works are "Common Sense" which rallied the colonials to take up arms against England, and "Age of Reason" which details his own quest for truth and serves as a reasoned rejection of religion.

Truth be told, even after reading a few short chapters of "Age of Reason," I believe it is something all Christians should read and consider. It would make for quite the rowdy and controversial Bible study.

Paine was a pain in the keister to the ruling class and religious establishment. Early in his essayist career was regarded as a hero, and sparked democratic revolution both in the American Colonies and also overseas, but in his later years was "demonized" for his criticism of Christianity and all forms of "revealed religion." He wrote "Age of Reason" later in his life, knowing that the crap would hit the fan because of it. He was the definitition a a principled man and radical - a radical to this day, in view of what the country he helped found has become.

And I dare say: Thomas Paine is closer to the character of Jesus the Christ than most if not all of those who claim to follow Him.

You'll hear more about this guy in posts to come.

Below are some links for more info, including highlights at Wikipedia and links to "Age of Reason."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine
http://www.thomaspaine.org/Archives/AOR1.html
http://www.thomaspaine.org/Archives/AOR2.html

What this blog is

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

First thing I must say about my blog: this will not be a "Christian" blog. I don't really know what it will become. So if you cringed at the title and the first line quote of my post, you can rest easy. If you thought, "Hell yeah! Kick some unbeliever butt, Jesus!" hopefully this blog will make you step back a little and think. That's my intention.

With good friends across the oceans, I will also be posting updates on how things are going with me and my family, and photos of my wee-little one named Cecilia. More info to come.

Let's look for a moment at the context of the above quote:

This is Jesus talking now: "'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.'
Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' - John 14:1-6

You see how Thomas basically goes, "Wait a minute, Lord, we have no idea where you're going, so how can we know?"

That's what this blog is going to do - ask the tough questions. I hope you're as eager as I am to contemplate them, because I do believe asking those tough questions is the way to the truth, and to a more free and fulfilling life.