Worldviews of Thomas Paine

People begin to think and form an opinion at an early age. Some of our opinions may be immature at first; however over the years, one’s opinions tend to grow and develop. As people become more mature, we stop listening and following our parent’s beliefs and start to form and follow our own. When one sits, and ponders, questions such as: how did the world come into existence, how long did it take, was it our twenty-four hour six days compared to the time before Christ? Although we may not realize it at the time, we are actually forming our own world-view upon answering these questions. In The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine stands for his own world-view and his belief system. Although I may not agree with everything he stands for, he gives a clear explanation as to why he believes what he does.

Thomas Paine, who believed in Deism, was an English-American poet who wrote The Age of Reason. This work contains a majority,if not all, of Paine’s beliefs. He begins by stating that everyone is entitled to his own opinion and no one should be denied this right. He specifically points to opinions on religion and other similar concerns. “He, who denies another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it” (Paine 94). He also believes in the existence of one God and equality for all.

I completely agree with Paine in that everyone is entitled to his own opinion. Freedom of speech, which includes an opinion, is of course, in America’s Bill of Rights. Every American is given the freedom of speech. God did not design us to be all exactly alike. Being said, He wants one to have his own individual opinion. He does not want us to be like robots and all follow the sa...

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...ing a worldview requires very long and tedious consideration. It takes time to form and mold and be refined. Of course, no one’s worldview will be completely the same as another. Everyone is not going to agree and disagree on many of the same subjects. When one does establish a world view, they should be true and stick to that worldview. (Thomas Paine was loved by few and loathed by many, but was well respected for standing firm to what he believed.) In writing The Age of Reason, Paine’s goal was to get readers to contemplate on their own worldview. His goal was met and was very successful, although many people did not agree with what he believed and his worldview. Although I disagree with most of what he said, I respect him for staying true to himself and his beliefs. The worldview that I have now, will more than likely, remain with me through the rest of my life.