CAT Question of the Day

The question below contains a paragraph followed by alternative summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the text.

The Age of Reason: Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology, a deistic treatise written by eighteenth-century British radical and American revolutionary Thomas Paine, critiques institutionalized religion and challenges the inerrancy of the Bible. Published in three parts in 1794, 1795, and 1807, it was a bestseller in America, where it caused a short-lived deistic revival. British audiences, however, fearing increased political radicalism as a result of the French revolution, received it with more hostility. The Age of Reason presents common deistic arguments; for example, it highlights the corruption of the Christian Church and criticizes its efforts to acquire political power. Paine advocates reason in the place of revelation, leading him to reject miracles and to view the Bible as an ordinary piece of literature rather than as a divinely inspired text. The Age of Reason is not atheistic, but Deistic: it promotes natural religion and argues for a creator-God.

OPTIONS
	1)	Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason criticizes institutionalized religion and challenges the usefulness of the Bible. The book was very popular in America but less so in Britain. The book promotes a rational belief in the existence of God.
	2)	The Age of Reason, a book written by Thomas Paine in the 18th century, criticizes institutionalized religion and the beliefs written in the Bible. It was a bestseller in America but was less well received in Britain where people were more God fearing. The book is essentially deistic in nature, i.e. it promotes a rational belief in God.
	3)	The Age of Reason, a book written by Thomas Paine, who was an 18th century radical and revolutionary, challenges institutionalized religion and the writings in the Bible. It was a bestseller in America, but less so in Britain due to its increased political radicalism. The book highlights the corruption of the church and its efforts to acquire political power.
	4)	Thomas Paine’s, The Age of Reason is a book which criticizes institutionalized religion, challenges the inerrancy of the Bible, and promotes deism. It was a bestseller in America but was less well received in Britain.
	5)	Thomas Paine’s, The Age of Reason is a book which criticizes the authority of institutionalized religion and people’s belief in the Bible. It was a bestseller in America but was less well received in Britain which feared that the book may incite a wave of political radicalism. The book also highlights the corruption of the church and its efforts to acquire power.