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Freedom Of Religion Benjamin Franklin Summary

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Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of America. Being such, he helped create the constitution in America. One of the striking aspects of this document was the focus on freedom, including freedom of religion. In his Autobiography part 2, Franklin demonstrates his gift of irony once again as he points out the lack of freedom that organized religion allows its followers. In his view, the absence of moral teachings renders the religious establishment obsolete as an inspiration and source to good morality. Religious people should be at liberty to interpret and worship their religion as they please. Franklin uses an argument of analogy in the form of a list of 13 virtues that replaces his Presbyterianism. Franklin had a Presbyterian …show more content…

Instead, he has more of a general and modest view on religion as a whole. There is ample evidence for this, one being where Franklin, after having listed the principles of religion that he “esteem’d the Essentials of every Religion,” he follows up by stating: “and being to be found in all the Religions we had in our Country I respected them all”. Furthermore, Franklin admits to have made small contributions in an effort to help religions spread their influence, but he does not discriminate towards any religion: “… my Mite, for such purpose, whatever might be the Sect, was never refused.” The way he emphasizes that many different sects has received his contributions, reflects Franklin’s inclusive view of religion. It is further evidenced by Franklin’s condemnation of one the dogmas that religion advocates, namely “Reprobation”, which refers to the belief that god himself is excluding individuals of salvation if their conduct is incompatible with a religion in any way. Reprobation is condemned by Franklin stating that it, along with “Election” and the “Eternal decrees of God”, “appear’d to me unintelligible, others doubtful.” Presumably, Franklin’s idea of god does not have allegiance to any particular religion, and salvation is not contingent upon whether you follow the correct religion. This view is compatible with the constitution of America, and its advocacy of religious freedom, at least to a bigger degree than those belonging to the religious

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All throughout Wood's book the reader will see insight from both sides and be able to imply ones own outlook on Franklin's loyalty to the

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Liberty was an idea that America was founded upon. When the Constitution was being written, Benjamin Franklin gave a speech explaining why the delegates should sign the Constitution. Franklin admitted to the delegates that the document was not written to the best of its ability, and how he himself had doubts involving some parts. Overall, Franklin believed that this document would be something to protect the liberties of the people and would secure the people 's rights. Government preserves the liberty of citizens by their equality which leads to socialism.

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Franklin stresses the importance of having respect towards others religions. He states, “...respect to all, with an opinion that the worst had some good effects”, emphasizing that while a particular religion may not be correct in our eyes, it still could have “good effects” for society as a whole (Andrews, 133). Franklin had a more positive view on the effects of religion for society, whereas Paine would describe it as a heresy, but that “they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine” (Paine,

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Born in 1706 as the eighth of 17 children to a Massachusetts soap and candlestick maker, the chances Benjamin Franklin would go on to become a gentleman, scholar, scientist, statesman, musician, author, publisher and all-around general genius were astronomically low, yet he did just that. Franklin wrote in the Age of Enlightenment, an intellectual revolution in the 18th century. The ideals of the enlightenment are still thought of today, as they are a part of the United States’ Declaration of Independence and Constitution. When one remembers Benjamin Franklin very few people are aware of the fact that he worked as a printer until the age of 42. As a printer he had access to substantial amounts of literature.

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In Benjamin Franklin’s speech, he uses some phrases that are able to support his opinion on the faults of the constitution. He is willing to change his opinions for the benefit of our people. Ben Franklin believes that opinions are changed over time because even his opinions were changed as he matured and took the opinions of others into consideration. He stated that “- to change opinions even on the important subjects, which I once thought were right, but found to be otherwise.” It is crucial that people not only consider their opinions when making a decision, but also the views of others.

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Benjamin Franklin probably included that sentence to show how bias some of those men could have been, and thought that it was wrong to not let everyone could their own beliefs, opinions, and that they should all have an input no matter

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While back in America, Benjamin Franklin saves enough money to start his own printing press. At this point in his life, Franklin is continuing to write many of his books, exploring new ideas, and inventing. “It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other.

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There were a lot of American men who had perfect influence on people’s mind of American society. Jonathan Edward and Benjamin Franklin were two of those writers, who were the most important and intellectual men, who left behind many admirable works for the future society. In spite of them being so intelligent, they have some different and similar views in terms of morality, personal responsibility, human nature, and limits of human knowledge and inform people how to live a better life. In addition, they were different in terms of religious inclinations. Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edward were both philosopher and had similar views in terms of informing people the right way to live in order to be successful and get salvation by reforming their mind in their life.

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This therefore proves and validated his assertions about one’s ability to justify one’s actions through reasoning. Franklin’s assertions can be proved in many other historical events and aspects of society, most notable being slavery in the United States, tax evasions, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Slavery is something that existed for many, many years around the world

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Franklin again uses logos later in his speech, stating in paragraph 4 “If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the Objections he has had to it, and use his Influence to gain Partisan in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary Effects and great Advantages resulting naturally in our favour among foreign Nations, as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent Unanimity.” Here Franklin again makes use of syntax, specifically employing the use of long sentences, to slow down the pace of the speech and put emphasis on the logos found in the paragraph. Diction within this sentence such as “gain,” “support,” “prevent,” “recieved,” “lose,” and “advantages” serve the purpose of emphasizing how much of a lost opportunity it is for the country, if the people in the audience do not sign the constitution, and how much more the newly born country stands to gain from the new constitution then lose, despite its shortcomings; which Franklin himself admits to (forming

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Much like today’s American fundamentals, Franklin believed in allowing people to worship freely, without discernment or prejudice toward other

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Franklin’s criticism of religion in “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” is one of the most emotionally charged and serious paragraphs in the story. Polly Baker lives in colonial New England and religion is a huge part of life in that time. In her speech Polly states that she has been banned from church and overall rejected from taking part in organized religion. By declaring, “You believe I have offended Heaven, and must suffer eternal Fire. Will that nor be sufficient?”

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He uses several allusions in order to bring other events and people to mind. Franklin wants to “...Imitate Jesus and Socrates” (143). He is also basing his methods of self-examination on Pythagoras’s. These historical figures are well-known by the general public. Mentioning these figures helps audiences know that Franklin wants to be wise, kind, and humble, and that he also is going to be orderly and self-reflective.

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Franklin made it a huge part of his life to continue bettering his education and himself. Due to Franklins determination, he became a very successful politician along with so much more. Lastly, religion was another large part of Franklin’s book, he speaks thoroughly about his thoughts on different religions and his search for what he truly believed in. Despite leaving his religious group and stating that he doubted the Revelation he still stated that he had respect for other religious groups and supported the

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Franklin claims that he has been living long enough to see errors that he made, therefore as he grow older, he tend to “doubt of [his] own judgment” because nobody is perfect due to his past experiences (43). The informations that Franklin presents is to show his reputation that he is not perfect, also his constitution but he is open minded and willing to make what is best for the people. The perspective errors of the constitution have, is being “sacrificed to the public good” meaning all the flaw that constitution have will not be reveal to the people (44). Franklin is very passion about what is best for the people and their happiness, furthermore his characteristic is very respectful toward the citizen and the congress.

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