Thomas Paine: “Did it not perceive, that in the present crisis, every rational man would be afraid of exposing his fortune?”

I do not believe that any two men, on what are called doctrinal points, think alike who think at all.

As to what are called national religions, we may, with as much propriety, talk of national Gods.

If, therefore, the good to be obtained be worthy of a passive, rational, and costless revolution, it would be bad policy to prefer waiting for a calamity that should force a violent one.

But as religion is very improperly made a political machine, and the reality of it is thereby destroyed, I will conclude this work with stating in what light religion appears to me.