Thomas Paine vs the Founding Fathers: How the Founding Fathers took on attacks against Christianity. Enemies Foreign and domestic. Thomas Paine was a citizen of England who came to America to learn the secrets of her goodness, copy them, write them down. Then in his book "Age of Reason" purposed to destroy the foundation of the country that made it Great. Christian principles built on the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the end he failed in his mission to destroy America and bring it back under British Rule. Thomas Paine died alone buried in disgrace in a cow pasture. He could not return home failing in his assignment.