He died hated by those without character, because he had character. The religious zealotry that motivated his vilification is alive and some of its proponents are over at the quote beginning "All national institutions of churches...." waving their MY WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY flags. A foot note Paine might have added to this is "question authority" (Buddha), "performance under adversity reveals charater" (Me), "be impeccable" ( Don Juan and Don Miquel), and just for cute this one from the father of the CONS (which Paine wouldn't f.n.) "you can tell alot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jelly beans" (Reagan).

Many of the comments just read seem to be expressing the writer's personal view point on the nature, goodness, value, benefits, and such of religion. Everyone in this country is entitled, able, and legally permitted to express an opinion, even if wrong, unsupported, contraindicated. With certain types of oppression this wouldn't be possible. Paines' point in this quote is that corrupt, oppressive controllers do not just run governments, some also run churches. This quote doesn't commit him one way or the other on any religion issue. And if the type of church leader he is referring to had enough power, half of the above comments and this one wouldn't get printed. Actually this site might not exist.

Hey Joe, think Buddhist, not socialist.