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He may believe that such a person as is called Jesus (for Christ was not his name) was born and grew to be a man, because it is no more than a natural and probable case. But who is to prove he is the son of God, that he was begotten by the Holy Ghost? Of these things there can be no proof; and that which admits not of proof, and is against the laws of probability and the order of nature, which God Himself has established, is not an object for belief. God has not given man reason to embarrass him, but to prevent his being imposed upon.

Okay, now I'm convinced that my faith is illogical and a lie....

"Paul, who was brought up a Pharisee, labors hard at this for it was the creed of his own Pharisaical Church: I Corinthians xv is full of supposed cases and assertions about the resurrection of the same body, but there is not a word in it about redemption."

The author probably should have reviewed Eph 1:7. Col 1:14, Hebrews 9:12 and 1Pet 1:18-19 before rejecting the doctrine of Redemption.

Paine makes this assertion:..."it is as impossible to prove a thing to be revelation as it is to prove that Mary was gotten with child by the Holy Ghost."

which manifests his lack of understanding of the meaning of faith. It is also consistent with a charge that perhaps Paine lacks the perspective to discern spiritual things with a Living Spirit.

"But there is nothing in the works of God that is evidence that He begat a son, nor anything in the system of creation that corroborates such an idea, and, therefore, we are not authorized in believing it."

Besides the numerous prophecies foreseeing the coming of Christ, the documented history, and the many miracles performed, Christianity is the ONLY religion where Christ promised His believers something after His death-the Holy Spirit. Those who know Christ have for centuries and will presently attest to the working and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

It is also the only religion where men point to God and not themselves. You will not find a book written by Jesus but many written about Jesus. All the disciples (except John) died horrible deaths just to proclaim this message.

Finally, it is also the only religion where you don't have to work for your salvation. You won't find any other religion promising anything except what you work for. The work of God's salvation, through Christ is all God to His Glory and wonderful Mercy.

This author obviously has never experienced this saving Grace that can be found through our Lord Jesus Christ. But then, he doesn't have to believe it.

What truth there may be in the story that Mary, before she was married to Joseph, was kept by one of the Roman soldiers, and was with child by him,

Zero. She was a consecrated Temple virgin raised and educated in the Temple. Her parents were elderly when she was born.

Thanks for the expose on T. Paine. I have no respect for him.

I marvel at what a shoddy piece of work this is. Paine evidently knew a bit about the New Testament, or at least went to some lengths to give the impression he did, yet made the ludicrously false assertion that the New Testament doesn't teach that Christ died to redeem sinners, and expected it to be persuasive. Did even he believe it, or was he counting on ignorant readers not checking it? And if a reader is already so ignorant of the New Testament, isn't he probably a non-Christian already?

(John 10:15-18, Romans 5, 1 John 2:1-2, and for good measure Isaiah 53.)