The Thursday, June 8, 2023 Thomas Paine Day event took place online. This recording was made possible with the help of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Center for Inquiry, Thomas Paine Memorial Association, and the Freethought Society.

Thomas Paine was a Deist, like many of the Founders of the United States of America. Deism is an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason, but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind.

Thomas Paine’s book "The Age of Reason" was written to explain Deism and in that book he states, “One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.” There is much to learn about Deism and how it relates to the modern world.

The speaker for the 2023 Thomas Paine Day was Amber Quitno. She represented the World Union of Deists (WUD). For more information about WUD, please visit:

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Music was provided by Dan Barker and James Klueh.

Congressman Jamie Raskin, Robyn Blumner, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Margaret Downey, and Judy Flattery delivered opening remarks.

A West Chester, Pennsylvania "Thomas Paine Day Proclamation" was highlighted.

Joining the event were guests from England. Thetford Mayor Stuart Wright and Gez Chetal, the owner of the Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford, talked about a new Thomas Paine-themed exhibition.

Paul Fitzgerald from Manchester, England is a cartoonist and illustrator. He is the author of PAINE: A Fantastical Visual Biography. Fitzgerald shared several pages of his book that had relevance to the subject of Deism. His presentation was enjoyed by all.

Sculptor Zenos Frudakis joined the Zoom social hour from his studio in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

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