The Age of Reason

I don't know how I've gone this long without reading it, but I've finally started to read The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine. It's very interesting so far and an easy read. It's written from a deist point of view and is as scathing of organized religion as anything from the atheists of today such as Dawkins and Hitchens. I wonder if the deists of the 18th century who became the founding fathers of America would be atheists today when it's not so much of a terrible sin to denounce completely denounce god and religion.

Even in the first few pages, I've found some choice quotes on religion in general

The un-natural anything is, the more is it capable of becoming the object of dismal admiration

and the Old Testament

It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind; and, for my own part, I sincerely detest it, as I detest everything that is cruel.

The worst thing is that I probably won't have enough time to finish the book until Christmas.

Edit: It just struck me that Thomas Paine looked familiar