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The bishop who has answered me has been obliged to…

“The bishop who has answered me has been obliged to acknowledge the fact, that the Books that compose the NT, were voted by yeas and nays to be the word of God, as you now vote a law, by the Popish councils of Nicea and Laodocia, about 1,450 years ago.” quote by Thomas Paine
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“The bishop who has answered me has been obliged to acknowledge the fact, that the Books that compose the NT, were voted by yeas and nays to be the word of God, as you now vote a law, by the Popish councils of Nicea and Laodocia, about 1,450 years ago.”

Thomas Paine

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Religious texts were historically shaped by political processes, not divine consensus.

In simple terms: Church decisions were political votes.

Key Takeaway

Question authority and seek personal understanding.

Themes

religion politics authority history

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

historical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • church councils
  • modern legislative bodies
  • academic curricula

Key Concepts

Enlightenment institutional critique democracy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this view affect your faith?
  • What role should democracy play in spiritual matters?
A Different Perspective

Historical context differs; modern religious authority may not follow same voting patterns.

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