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The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and…

“The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief of this is called blasphemy” quote by Thomas Paine
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“The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief of this is called blasphemy”

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.

The statement critiques the authority that declares a human-authored text divine, highlighting the tension between religious doctrine and secular law.

In simple terms: Challenges the divine claim of a human‑voted text.

Key Takeaway

Authority can be contested when based on human consensus.

Themes

authority religion law secularism skepticism

Mood

defiant critical inquisitive

Type

aphilosophical political theological

When to use this quote

  • theological debates
  • legal disputes over religious texts
  • academic discussions on secularism
  • public policy on religious freedom

Key Concepts

canonization blasphemy human agency divine authority

Practical Applications

  • critical analysis of religious authority
  • educational curricula on religious history

Questions to Reflect On

  • What implications arise when religious texts are subject to secular law?
  • How does labeling dissent as blasphemy affect free inquiry?
A Different Perspective

Some argue that the Bible’s moral teachings transcend its human origins, making its divine claim meaningful beyond legal decrees.

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