Absurdity Quote by Thomas Paine
“Take away from Genesis the belief that Moses was the author, on which only the strange believe that it is the word of God has stood, and there remains nothing of Genesis but an anonymous book of stories, fables, and traditionary or invented absurdities, or of downright lies.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine, 1794
Questioning Moses’ authorship suggests Genesis may be a collection of myths rather than divine revelation
In simple terms: Genesis might be mythic stories, not God's word
Key Takeaway
Consider the human origins of sacred texts
Themes
religion
history
criticism
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- faith discussions
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
authorship
mythology
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports divine authorship?
- How does myth influence faith?
A Different Perspective
Religious texts often blend history with legend, complicating literal belief
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