I've been reading #quotes by #ThomasPaine this morning. I don't recall why. Paine's writings are mixed on the topic of #religion, sometimes they have the appearance of christian language and at other times they are expressly atheist and even virulently anti-religious. This one struck me as having not aged particularly well.
There is wisdom in his writings too. Some of the things he said are shockingly relevant in America's current highly polarized political environment. Donald #Trump must never be President again and he must be held accountable for his crimes. #politics #quotes #ThomasPaine
Here are a few new favorite #quotes because I am a #teacher and I value #reason. #ThomasPaine
@danielbsmith Distressingly, THIS vengeful god is the god many of our political leaders and neighbors are using to beat us over the head with. They deny the loving Jesus and invoke the jealous, punishing god.
@GeezerWench Only when it suits their purposes. They always promote forgiveness and love when they're caught with their own hands in the cookie jar. But for everyone else, it's the angry wrathful god trope to keep the populace in line. #Hypocrites
As a #Christian, I find this one of his more inflammatory #quotes. My response is simple:
What a person looks for in scripture is what they will find. Expect a vengeful God and find judgement. But isn't such a person admitting they don't measure up, that they see themselves as guilty before God?
Nobody needs to be fearful of meeting God. Anyone who reads scripture with a spirit of repentance will find a loving God ready to forgive. #ThomasPaine failed to understand this but nobody else has to.