Rhetoric and style The most distinctive feature of The Age of Reason, like all of Paine's works, is its linguistic style. Historian Eric Foner argues that Paine's works "forged a new political language" designed to bring politics to the people by using a "clear, simple and straightforward" style.Foner, xvi. Paine outlined "a new vision—a utopian image of an egalitarian republican society" and his language reflected these ideals. He originated such phrases as "the rights of man," "the age of reason," "the age of revolution," and "the times that try men's souls."Foner, xv. Foner also maintains that with The Age of Reason Paine "gave deism a new, aggressive, explicitly anti-Christian tone".Foner, 247.
rHEtoric aND stYLe tHe Most dIstiNctIVe fEatuRe of the age of reason, like all OF Paine's Works, Is ITs linGuistic style. HistorIan ERic foner arguES ThaT pAine's WORkS "forged A new PoliTical laNguage" dESIgneD To bRInG politiCS to The pEople by usinG a "clEaR, sImplE AND STRaIghtFORwarD" stylE.foNEr, Xvi. pAine outliNeD "a New VIsioN—A UtopiAn ImAge oF an egAlItarIan repUblican socieTY" And HIs languaGe ReflecTed tHEsE ideAls. he orIGinateD Such phrasES aS "tHe righTs of mAN," "THe Age of reAson," "ThE age oF REvOlutiOn," And "tHE Times tHAT tRy Men's souLs."FoneR, xv. Foner aLso Maintains THAt witH tHE age Of reAson paiNe "GavE deism a nEw, aggressivE, expliCITly anti-chriStiAn toNE".Foner, 247.