Freethinkers Day

Thomas Paine was born on this day in 1737, and so he is honored with Freethinkers Day.

His Common Sense was released anonymously in the beginning of the American Revolution and was an immediate sensation, as it advocated independence while people were just protesting taxation.

He served as a volunteer aide to General Nathaniel Greene during the war, and wrote his Crisis papers.  Number 1 begins with the famous line, "These are the times that try men's souls."

This helped to encourage soldiers to reenlist.

In 1777, Paine was appointed secretary to the Committee for Foreign Affairs.  He accused a member of the Continental Congress of profiting from French aid and quoted secret documents in his argument.  However, in doing so, he violated his position and had to resign.

He was then appointed clerk of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania where he used $500 from his own salary to start a relief fund for soldiers.

Although his writings were popular and widely circulated, Paine never accepted any profits, so he appealed to Congress for financial support.  Pennsylvania gave him some funds and New York provided a farm in New Rochelle.

He later returned to England and got caught up in the French Revolution.  There he released Rights of Man, which was essentially an analysis of discontent and a remedy for "the evils of arbitrary government."  He advocated the abolition of the monarchy but fought unsuccessfully to save King Louis' life.  For this, Paine was arrested but later released with the fall of Robespierre.

During his incarceration he wrote Age of Reason which was seen as an attack on Christianity.  He criticized efforts for political power and suggested the Bible be viewed as an ordinary piece of literature.

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