Ben Franklin's views on religion, in his own words.

2007-02-07 20:17:27

#1

Elamdri: The New Johnnie Cochran; +134|7074|Peoria

In a letter sent to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale College, a few weeks before he died.

Benjamin Franklin wrote:
"You desire to know something of my religion. It is the first time I have been questioned upon it. But I cannot take your curiosity amiss, and shall endeavor in a few words to gratify it. Here is my creed. I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His providence. That He ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we rend to Him is doing good to His other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental principles of all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with now, when I expect soon an opportunity to knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and better observed; especially as I do not perceive, that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in His government of the world with any peculiar marks of His displeasure.
I shall only add, respecting myself, that, having experienced the goodness of that Being in conducting me prosperously through a long life, I have no doubt of its continuance in the next, though without the smallest conceit of meriting such goodness."

and in the Post Script

Benjamin Franklin wrote:
"I confide, that you will not expose me to criticism and censure by publishing any part of this communication to you. I have ever let other enjoy their religious sentiments, without reflecting on them for those that appeared to me unsupportable and even absurd. All sects here, and we have a great variety, have experienced my good will in assisting them with subscriptions for building their new places of worship; and, as I have never opposed any of their doctrines, I hope to go out of the world in peace with them all."

When I read this, I feel an overarching sense of shame for my generation and the 2 generations that precede me. While I have tried my life to live according to a doctrine similar to this, I know at times I have faltered, and God knows many of the people on this forum flaunt in the face of this wisdom daily.

Last edited by Elamdri (2007-02-07 20:19:52)

2007-02-07 20:39:14

#2

ATG: Banned; +5,233|6957|Global Command

Beauty.

2007-02-07 21:35:20

#3

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6833|North Carolina

Franklin was the man. If only there were more like him....

2007-02-07 21:39:50

#4

Elamdri: The New Johnnie Cochran; +134|7074|Peoria

I love how eloquent his writing is.

2007-02-07 22:22:22

#5

Smithereener: Member; +138|6743|California

That was awesome.

I just read The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin at school for English, and his morality and work ethic as described in the book is frankly (crappy pun intended) the greatest that I have seen/heard of. Like Turquoise said above, if only there were more people like him in the world.

2007-02-07 22:32:51

#6

iamangry: Member; +59|7073|The United States of America

+1 to Ben
(anyone else notice that his initials spell BF, as in battlefield? Pretty coincidental I think, lets start a conspiracy over it :p)

Ben was a pretty good guy. He did all sorts of diplomatic and political stuff, and thats cool, but do you all know what the best thing he did was?

His work on Electricity. I mean, come on, I think everyone here will agree that it takes some pretty big balls to stand out in a thunderstorm with large lightning attractor. Seriously, +1 again.

2007-02-07 22:54:46

#7

ATG: Banned; +5,233|6957|Global Command

I think the Farmers Almanac was actually more profound.

2007-02-09 03:52:31

#8

lowing: Banned; +1,662|7079|USA

Ben was right...............Now, how nice would it be if all other religions wanted live in peace with all of us?

What would ole' Bens sentiments be if he were a witness to Islamic radicalism against his country or the rest of the free world.?

2007-02-09 04:53:47

#9

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6989

Probably the same as if he were to witness attacks on Islam by Dutch newspapers: disgust.

2007-02-09 07:07:09

#10

too_money2007: Member; +145|6736|Keller, Tx

There is no God.

2007-02-09 09:17:01

#11

Elamdri: The New Johnnie Cochran; +134|7074|Peoria

Bubbalo wrote:
Probably the same as if he were to witness attacks on Islam by Dutch newspapers: disgust.

Knowing Franklin, he'd probably criticize the evils of radical Islam, while at the same time, donate all he could to the construction of mosques in America.

2007-02-09 09:43:08

#12

KEN-JENNINGS: I am all that is MOD!; +2,991|7060|949

too_money2007 wrote:
There is no God.

only Zuul.

The best part is the post script where he pleads with the recipient of the letter to not share his (Ben's) confidential beliefs.

Last edited by KEN-JENNINGS (2007-02-09 09:44:02)

2007-02-09 10:31:52

#13

Elamdri: The New Johnnie Cochran; +134|7074|Peoria

I don't think he was so much pleading as requesting. Ezra Stiles and Ben Franklin were good friends and Stiles much respected Franklin. I think Franklin merely wanted to avoid offending anyone with his personal beliefs, as he was supportive of all religion.

2007-02-09 14:47:35

#14

lowing: Banned; +1,662|7079|USA

Bubbalo wrote:
Probably the same as if he were to witness attacks on Islam by Dutch newspapers: disgust.

Wow, attacked by a Dutch newspaper??!! How many troops did the "DUTCH TIMES" send into battle, I hope they had a strong Air Force because, no newspaper should ever go into battle with out air superiority.

For once in your life get real bubbalo with your posts.

Last edited by lowing (2007-02-09 14:48:51)

2007-02-09 14:49:31

#15

Doctor Strangelove: Real Battlefield Veterinarian.; +1,758|6896

Ben Franklin>You

2007-02-09 19:55:35

#16

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6989

lowing wrote:
Wow, attacked by a Dutch newspaper??!! How many troops did the "DUTCH TIMES" send into battle, I hope they had a strong Air Force because, no newspaper should ever go into battle with out air superiority.

For once in your life get real bubbalo with your posts.

And that kind of narrow thinking is exactly why the US isn't doing anything to stop terrorists. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

2007-02-09 22:02:52

#17

lowing: Banned; +1,662|7079|USA

Bubbalo wrote:
lowing wrote:
Wow, attacked by a Dutch newspaper??!! How many troops did the "DUTCH TIMES" send into battle, I hope they had a strong Air Force because, no newspaper should ever go into battle with out air superiority.

For once in your life get real bubbalo with your posts.
And that kind of narrow thinking is exactly why the US isn't doing anything to stop terrorists. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Yes, I know bubbalo, liberal appeasement is always an option. Let us understand them and try not to piss them off so we can hope that they don't hurt us. Been there with you bubbalo, remember? ya lost.

and the point being, you don't exactly start killing people and rioting just because a newspaper called your violent murdering martyr, violent and a murderer. It is that kind of narrow thinking that starts wars.

By the way, the US can not stop terrorism by themselves. At least we are standing up to them and saying enough. How mamy more Aussies have to die like in Bali, before you have had enough?

2007-02-09 22:14:02

#18

TrollmeaT: Aspiring Objectivist; +492|7100|Colorado

Ben was a womanizer, like most normal men. If he could see what religion has turned into I'm sure he & the fore fathers would have banned it.
These men were thinkers, religion suppresses thought.

2007-02-09 22:20:09

#19

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6989

You know what, lowing, I don't know what you're even doing here. Every time I try to explain my solution, you ignore me, and then the next time I say anything accuse me of appeasement and ask me to explain my position again. You are interested in neither debate nor talk: merely in pushing your views of people.

2007-02-09 22:46:36

#20

lowing: Banned; +1,662|7079|USA

Bubbalo wrote:
You know what, lowing, I don't know what you're even doing here. Every time I try to explain my solution, you ignore me, and then the next time I say anything accuse me of appeasement and ask me to explain my position again. You are interested in neither debate nor talk: merely in pushing your views of people.

I have not ignored you, I have heard your solution, your problem with me is I disagree with it. What you call understanding and working toward not pissing off terrorists, I call appeasement. You are frustrated because I will not let you disguise it with a politically correct, pleasent term for the word. It is what it is.

I am interested in debate AND talk, all I ask is you say something about the issues that can be disgusted in the realms of the reality, of this world.

2007-02-09 22:51:59

#21

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6989

No, my problem is I have never suggested working towards not pissing of terrorists. I have suggested arresting them like the criminals they are.

2007-02-09 22:55:48

#22

lowing: Banned; +1,662|7079|USA

Bubbalo wrote:
No, my problem is I have never suggested working towards not pissing of terrorists. I have suggested arresting them like the criminals they are.

Good plan, unfortunately, we have to go hunt them down, since they just aren't turning themselves in like we had hoped.

2007-02-09 23:46:50

#23

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6989

But you aren't arresting them: you're going to war, which is exactly what they want. You need to be forcing countries to arrest terrorists inside their borders.

2007-02-09 23:52:43

#24

Pernicious544: Zee Tank Skank; +80|7128|MoVal So-Cal

Can I please clarify: God does not exist. God did not create man, man created god. And, seeings how this has ALREADY turned into a terrorist debate thread let me say that religion is the number one cause of all of the world's deaths through out history.

2007-02-09 23:56:14

#25

RavyGravy: Son.; +617|6833|NSW, Australia

off topic: sorry but i has to ask this, why does every topic and d&st turn into a discussion about terrorists?

BF2S Forums Ben Franklin's views on religion, in his own words.

Benjamin Franklin wrote:

Benjamin Franklin wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

too_money2007 wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

lowing wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

lowing wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

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