'Uriah Plant, a wheelwright's son, affirmed that "My uncertainty about the truth of religion not only increased my sense of its importance... but gave me a habit of thinking, a love of reading, and a desire after knowledge"... he organized a discussion group devoted to religion and, over six years spent "only" ?21 10s. 9d. on books, mostly secondhand. He fearlessly read across the spectrum of theological opinion, including The Age of Reason'.