He played a positive role in the American cause by writing “Common Sense,” which celebrates its 250th birthday this year. “Common Sense” was a monograph---more than an article, less than a full book---published in Philadelphia. But that doesn’t mean his masterpiece, “Common Sense,” was in any way anti-Christian. I am persuaded that Thomas Paine made a shambles of his life by the end by cutting himself off from Jesus Christ. When he was faithful to God, Thomas Paine retained his common sense.