Freethinkers Book Club: Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Freethinkers Book Club

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Speaker: Gary Berton

(President, Thomas Paine National Historical Association)

Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Common Sense is a 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. Writing in clear and persuasive prose, Paine presents moral and political arguments to encourage common people in the Colonies to fight for independence from Great Britain and establishment of an egalitarian government. It was first published anonymously in January 1776 at the beginning of the American Revolution and became an immediate sensation.

Gary Berton is a leading Thomas Paine scholar and President of the Thomas Paine National Historical Association.  He will be presenting a brief biography of Thomas Paine before leading book club discussion of Common Sense. Afterwards, other Thomas Paine works and impact will be presented. Ample time for discussion and Q&A is planned. 

Thomas Paine was a deist and a strong supporter of the separation of religion and government. In the final paragraph of the Appendix to Common Sense, Thomas Paine addresses Quakers who published an article advocating to maintain the "happy connection we have heretofore enjoyed, with the kingdom of Great Britain, and our just and necessary subordination to the king"

And here without anger or resentment I bid you farewell. Sincerely wishing, that as men and christians, ye may always fully and uninterruptedly enjoy every civil and religious right; and be, in your turn, the means of securing it to others; but that the example which ye have unwisely set, of mingling religion with politics, may be disavowed and reprobated by every inhabitant of America.

We hope you will join us for this discussion. You are also welcomed if you have not read the book, but please take a look at one or more of these resources.

• Project Gutenberg Text of Common Sense by Thomas Paine
• Wikipedia Thomas Paine
• Wikipedia Common Sense
• Thomas Paine National Historical Association
• Thomas Paine Memorial Association

Please join us!

Participants are encouraged to join the Pittsburgh Freethought Community if not already a member.
https://pghfreethought.org/Become-a-member