The forgotten story of nineteenth-century freethinkers and twentieth-century humanists who sought to create their own secular religion is explored in this compelling narrative. It reveals how freethinking liberals in nineteenth-century America embraced a secular religion centered on the deistic revolutionary Thomas Paine (1737–1809) and how their legacy became intertwined with the culture wars of the late twentieth century. After Paine’s remains were stolen in 1819 and sent to England, his American followers embarked on a quest for his relics, deepening their reverence. Paine’s birthday became a significant occasion for these advocates of democratic cosmopolitanism and philanthropic benevolence, who expanded their practices to include various rites, especially non-Christian funerals. They aimed to establish their own churches and congregations to celebrate their secular beliefs. These efforts sparked critical discussions about the definition of religion, particularly regarding the inclusion of nontheistic fellowships and humanistic groups—a debate that resurfaced in the latter half of the twentieth century. As right-wing Christians began to view secular humanism as a major threat, small communities of religious humanists, descendants of Paine’s followers, found themselves engaged in new conflicts over the public role of religion and the perceived dangers of secularism. This narrative uncovers an essential yet overlooked chapte
