--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever we read the obscene stories, the…" description: "\"“Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/thomas-paine-267_bible_whenever-we-read-the-obscene-stories-the_2144103.jpg" --- # Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous… ![“Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/thomas-paine-267_bible_whenever-we-read-the-obscene-stories-the_2144103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/thomas-paine-267_bible_whenever-we-read-the-obscene-stories-the_2144103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/thomas-paine-267_bible_whenever-we-read-the-obscene-stories-the_2144103.jpg) > ““Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon than the word of God. 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.”” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Critique of biblical violence and cruelty, suggesting it reflects demonic influence rather than divine. **In simple terms:** The Bible contains many harsh, violent passages. Key Takeaway Question the moral authority of sacred texts. Themes religion violence morality Mood critical skeptical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious study - ethical debates - literary analysis - personal belief systems Key Concepts theology criticism historical context Questions to Reflect On - Do violent texts diminish a religion's moral credibility? - How should believers reconcile faith with such passages? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary; many find spiritual value despite harsh content. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wickedness/) ## Related quotes > [Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortuous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/whenever-we-read-the-obscene-stories-the-voluptuous-debaucheries-the-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The Bible: a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalise mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-bible-a-history-of-wickedness-that-has-served-to-corrupt-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [ ...It would be more consistent that we call \[the Bible\] the work of a demon than the word of God. It is a history… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-would-be-more-consistent-that-we-call-the-bible-the-work-of-a/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Religion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/religion-is-a-history-of-wickedness-that-has-served-to-corrupt-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst; every other species of tyranny is limited to the world we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/of-all-the-tyrannies-that-affect-mankind-tyranny-in-religion-is-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“In fact the English word ‘demon’ is full of a value judgement that is wrongly attributed to the words rakshasa and asura.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/in-fact-the-english-word-demon-is-full-of-a-value-judgement-that-is/) [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/) > [The way she told it, she was such a criminal even the most God-fearing church ladies got bored of reporting on her; she did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/the-way-she-told-it-she-was-such-a-criminal-even-the-most-god-fearing/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I have been lately introduced to the famous Thomas Paine, and like him very well. 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Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. 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The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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