Common Sense, a pamphlet by Thomas Paine, could not have come at a better time. The colonists craved independence, but leaned toward reconciliation with the British. Paine stresses this theme throughout the work. The pamphlet was directed toward every colonist, including those still loyal to the Crown. One opinion of the publication is "Paine's Common Sense was unremittingly secular in tone, making its points through a primer on eighteenth-century republican thought, using Biblical quotes merely as window-dressing. But colonists, far from secular in their leanings, interpreted the pamphlet through evangelical and democratic lenses, seeing in his work support for an egalitarian society they craved." I agree in part with this statement believing neither the work was completely secular in tone, nor did Paine use Biblical quotes as window-dressing. However, I do believe that the colonists interpreted the pamphlet using their evangelical beliefs, praying for a society that would allow them a democratic platform. .
Paine's views expressed in Common Sense were not secular in tone. Paine made his views about monarchy very clear using a religious tone. "As the exalting one man so greatly above the rest cannot be justified on the equal rights of nature, so neither can it be defended on the authority of scripture; for the will of the Almighty expressly disapproves of government by kings. (Paine 72)" Paine was careful not to express his own religious views, but also did not mention the way that other religions looked at monarchy. This was unnecessary since the colonists were mainly of the same religion. .
Paine used Biblical quotes effectively in this pamphlet, not as "window dressing". It was clear that Paine knew what he was talking about because his quotes from the Bible were on target and related to his subject. Although Paine uses them many times, the main section of Biblical quotes was related to Jewish people.
