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- Title
Thomas Paine, Freemason Or Deist?
- Authors
Afsai, Shai
- Abstract
The article examines whether U.S. Founding Father Thomas Paine was a Freemason or Deist. The author explores Paine's negative views on established religions, his friendships with other prominent Freemasons such as Nicolas de Bonneville, and his work "Origin of Free-Masonry," which connects the fraternity with the religion of the Druids. Paine's Deistic thinking is compared with that of U.S. statesman and polymath Benjamin Franklin as well. The author concludes that Paine was not a Mason but maintained close connections with the group.
- Subjects
PAINE, Thomas, 1737-1809; FREEMASONRY; FREEMASONS; DEISM; DRUIDS &; druidism; FRANKLIN, Benjamin, 1706-1790; RELIGION
- Publication
Early America Review, 2011, Vol 10, Issue 6, p4
- ISSN
1090-4247
- Publication type
Article