Post Puritan America became a melting pot for religious philosophies. A prevalent philosophy of the time is Deism. Deists are those who believe in the existence of a God or supreme being but deny revealed religion or supernatural doctrines associated with those beliefs. Deists base their faith on nature, reason, science, and common sense. An example of a Deist's beliefs in literature is in Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason. Paine says, "My own mind is my own church" (494). Deists do not believe a worshiper need go to church; a believer can exercise their religious services in their mind, without the aid of a priest, preacher, reverend or rabbi. Nor does it depend on the religion one exercises. " . . . The Koran was written in Heaven, and brought to Mahomet by an angel, the account comes to near the same kind of hearsay evidence and second hand authority as the former. I did not see the angel myself, and therefore I have a right not to believe it" (495). Another example of a Deist doctrine is exemplified by "the commandments . . . contain some good moral precepts such as any man qualified to be a lawgiver or a legislator could produce himself, without having recourse to supernatural intervention" (495). Deists do not give credence to supernatural ideas - even when it comes to the Ten Commandments. Paine is the quintessential Deist; a man who does not believe in any ideal if it does not have a scientific or reasonable back up.
