Thomas Paine Day - also called Freethinkers' Day- Failed in Senate Committee

Sixty-Six Arkansas House Members Voted on Jan 22, 09 To Commemorate Thomas Paine Day.
"It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes," Thomas Paine said.
Rep Lindsley Smith of Fayetteville was the sponsor of the bill.

Following are excerpts from Arkansas Democrat Gazette article : http://www.nwanews.com/adg/National/250756/ See the quotes from Paine's works below the excerpts.

"An Arkansas Senate committee balked Tuesday at recommending a bill that would designate a day to commemorate Revolutionary War patriot Thomas Paine.

"Paine would be commemorated yearly on Jan. 29 by a proclamation issued by the governor under House Bill 1086 by Rep. Lindsley Smith, D-Fayetteville.

"A motion by Sen. Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville, for the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee to endorse the bill failed for the lack of a second by the committee's other members.

"The action came after Sen. Randy Laverty, D-Jasper, questioned Paine's writings on religion in Paine's book The Age of Reason after reading to committee members some writings that Laverty later said were given to him by an Eagle Forum member, whose name he couldn't recall.

"I laud him for many of the things that he did, but apparently at some point in the writing of that book, if this is true information, he had some very disparaging things to say about the Bible. It's naturally a concern to those of us that believe in the faith of our fathers," Laverty said.

"She [Rep Lindsley Smith] said she has had her religion questioned by some people, and that she attended a Methodist church for 40 years and now attends a Unitarian church.
End of excerpts from article.

Sampling of Thomas Paine Quotes (See links below where you can find these quotes)

Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason and more contradicotyr to itself than this thing called Christianiy. Thomas Pain, The Age of Reason.

I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in human beings. Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason

All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Chritian or turkis, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profits. Thomas Pain, The Age of Reason.

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man. Thomas Paine

Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst. It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes. Thomas Paine

For the names of legislators who voted for this bill and those who voted against it, see this link: Vote was taken January 22, 09 http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Pages/Votes.aspx?rcsnum=2257&votechamber=House

For documentation on these quotes by Paine go to this link, and they are at the very end of the article. http://www.wpaag.org/Leg%2009%20-%20AR%20House%20voted%20to%20honor%20athesist%20John%20Paine2.htm