Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke are notable scholars whose works have continued to be applicable in the modern society; with Paine focusing on reasoning and Burke on a reflection of the French revolutions, one cannot help but relate to their ideas. There are four pertinent concepts that integrate Burke and Paine’s ideas: Religion, the role of the mind, revolutions, and rights. Although both authors present differing views on religion and the role of the mind, they have similarities concerning revolutions. For example, Paine looks into rights as the freedom to believe in what one wants to without being coerced while Burke states that it is the tendency of the people to choose their own leaders freely (Burke, 1998, 8; Paine, 2007, 5). In the end, Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke come out as notable thinkers who provide significant insights into reasoning and the role of the people in the society.
Religion
Both authors have provided a considerable view of the concept of religion and humanity and how the two should integrate. Paine (2007, 6) insists that the church insists that their God communicated through a certain individual such as Jesus Christ for Christians and Mahomet for the Turks. In a way, Paine is trying to suggest to the world that religion should not make some people appear more important and, thus, favorable in front of God than others. Admittedly, Burke (1999, 6) likens religion to morality and asserts that it aids in the overall accomplishment of liberty in the society. In this respect, religion is seen as a crucial tool to the growth and accomplishment of a free world where individual rights and freedom is upheld.
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From the above insights, it is evident that Edmund Burke is a strong advocate of religion if it is used in the right way while Thomas Paine is more of a critic who believes that religion is out to oppress the masses. For example, the former even goes on to put morality, law, and religion in the same sentence when he comments that some people wanted to bring all those into the peril they had escaped from (Burke, 2007, 9). Paine would be quite annoyed if he learned that a notable person such as Burke fought for religion. As Paine (2007, 10) postulates, “Jesus Christ wrote no account of himself, of his birth, parentage, or anything else.” In this respect, Paine is trying to tell the society to desist from relying on mystified accounts, and instead, seek for more surety as to what God entails. On another hand, Burke is simply advocating for the prevalence and rightful integration of religion in the same society.
Role of the Mind
In any case, it is important to note that much of the societal pacts are based in the mind. Paine (2007, 6) starts by stating that his mind is his church. When commenting on the mind, Burke (1999, 8) begs to throw out his thoughts while expressing his feelings as they come out in his mind. Both authors present differing but interesting perspectives on the role of the mind. Paine looks into the mind as a source of knowledge and reason which one can use to make rational and independent decisions that are free from the influence of religion. Burke, however, looks into the mind as a tool that is used to organize thought amid other factors. A crucial understand of the two reveals a deepened conflict since Paine is suggesting that the mind serves to be the most critical tool of humanity while Burke looks into it as something that human beings can use to ease life regarding allowing for lean thinking.
However, Burke keeps an account of the importance of the mind concerning its influence on the noble pride and glory of a country (Burke, 1999, 53). The politician is likening the strength of a country to the mind whereby if the mind is broken, the country is destroyed. Paine agrees to this fact in many ways. This is evident throughout the book where he seems to suggest that the society should learn to separate their mind from religion and make the former to be their religion. Through this, Paine points out that if the mind is brainwashed or subjected to nonexistent supernatural stories, then the person and the society as a whole are blinded by the real facts in life.
A Revolution
Amid all the discussions of the mind and religion plus how they integrate with the society, it is crucial to look into how the two authors perceive revolution. Burke should be especially interesting considering he is reflecting on the French revolution in his letter. When looking into the revolution of the state, Burke (1999, 141) says, “By a revolution in the state, the fawning sycophant of yesterday is converted into the austeric of the present hour.” These insights bring the reader into scope as to how a revolution should be conducted. Noticeably, the author advises that revolutions should be approached with zero naivety and continued healthy criticism. This should apply irrespective of whether one is dealing with an individual or an institution, especially in the present age. Paine points out that after the French revolution, a woman who had been performing miracles could no longer do so (Paine, 2007, 167). As Paine (2007, 167) concludes, this meant that the said miracles were tricks and lies. This comment suggests that the society and notably, the modern people should embrace rational thought and revolutions because it is through this that true deliverance could be experienced.
In another instance, Paine looks into the Christian statement of “loving your enemies” as a fabulous morality that is highly hypocritical. The author uses the American and French revolutions while explaining that if the notion of returning good for evil was the right way, then it should not be a duty as stipulated in Christianity but a voluntary act. This strikes a thought whereby in the modern society, not only religion but also other aspects such as the government should not impose rules or rather duties on their people. Just like Burke, Paine insists that the people should be at will to know what is right or wrong and revolutions are meant to ensure these.
Rights
The concept of rights has been expounded by many authors. Many tend to see rights as what each human being is entitled to by virtue of being part of the human race. Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke wrote their content at a time when the society was not as sophisticated as it is now. However certain aspects such as politics, governments, and basic needs existed and this is why both authors are almost speaking directly to the 21 st -century person. In the context of religion, Paine refers to the word “revelation” as what is communicated immediately from by God to man (Paine, 2007, 5). This is part of Paine’s criticisms on religion as he goes on to reveal that a right is something that a person is entitled to because they are autonomous and they deserve dignity. He points out that he has a right to believe that the Koran was not written in heaven as presented by the religion (Paine, 2007, 5). As a person who focused extensively on the French revolution, Burke (1999, 8) posits that the people have a right to choose their own rulers, dismiss them from misconduct, and form their own government. This reveals a man who believes in free will and thought of the people.
The modern society can borrow a leaf from the scholars. Notably, it is evident that a person’s right is not negotiable. However, Paine looks at rights from the perspective of freedom to believe or not to believe in something without feeling punished while Burke presents that a right is seen where the people have the ability to choose their own rulers and dictate how the common person is ruled. In the present context, it is vital to note that democracy is the best way to assure the upholding of human rights and similarly, no one should be discriminated or treated harshly just because they do not believe in what the majority does not.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Edmund Paine and Thomas Burke come out as interesting authors of the pre-modern world. While Burke prefers to document his writing in the form of a letter, Paine writes a chronology of his perceptions of reasoning especially in relation to religion. It is not hard to notice how both revolutionists are speaking to the present age that is blinded with pretty much what they are extrapolating about. Some of the common factors that both scholars have looked into are revolution, religion, the role of the mind, and on rights. For instance, Paine looks into the mind as a form of a church and a source of reasoning while Burke assumes that a mind is a place for stimulating thought. These perceptions reveal that, in any case, the present society should give credit to the mind as it is the tool that facilitates development. In the end, lessons learned have been vital in revealing how people should live if they seek to develop well and stay in harmony.
References
Paine, T. (2007). The age of reason. Sioux Falls: NuVision.
Burke, E. (1999). Reflections on the revolution in France . New York: Oxford University Press.
