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'''Benjamin Franklin''' (1706-1790) was one of the [[Founding Fathers]]. He was never [[President]], but he was [[ambassador]] to [[France]], and also he is on the $100 dollar bill. Benjamin Franklin was a prolific inventor, he invented the Franklin stove and the [[bifocal]] and also discovered [[electricity]] with the kite experiment in a lightning storm. Benjamin Franklin was truly a great American.

'''Benjamin Franklin''' (1706-1790) was one of the [[Founding Fathers]]. He was never [[President]], but he was [[ambassador]] to [[France]], and also he is on the $100 dollar bill. Benjamin Franklin was a prolific inventor, he invented the Franklin stove and the [[bifocal]] and also discovered [[electricity]] with the kite experiment in a lightning storm. Benjamin Franklin was truly a great American.

Many historians believe that Benjamin Franklin was a [[Deism|deist]] rather than a Christian.  But although Franklin wrote widely, he rarely made statements associated with principles of Deism.  Instead, Franklin made a passionate plea for saying prayers at the [[Constitutional Convention]]:<ref>http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/3rd_floor/god/2_convention.html</ref>

Many historians believe that Benjamin Franklin was a [[Deism|deist]].  But although Franklin wrote widely, he rarely made statements associated with principles of Deism.  Instead, Franklin made a passionate plea for saying prayers at the [[Constitutional Convention]]:<ref>http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/3rd_floor/god/2_convention.html</ref>

"Mr. President [George Washington] ... I have lived, sir, a long time, and, the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--'''that God governs in the affairs of men'''.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?  We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that 'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'

"Mr. President [George Washington] ... I have lived, sir, a long time, and, the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--'''that God governs in the affairs of men'''.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?  We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that 'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'

The above quotation demonstrates that Benjamin Franklin was not a [[deist]] when he participated in the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787, as deists do not believe in the "assistance of Heaven" or that "God governs in the affairs of men."  Franklin passed away less than three years after his statement, so it seems unlikely that his views changed further.

The above quotation demonstrates that Benjamin Franklin was not a [[deist]] when he participated in the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787, as deists do not believe in the "assistance of Heaven" or that "God governs in the affairs of men."  Franklin passed away less than three years after his statement, so it seems unlikely that his views changed further.

Those who claim that Franklin was a deist despite his clear statement above cite a passage from his autobiography ''discussion an earlier period in his life''. "Some books against Deism fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle’s Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist."<ref>''The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,'' in ''The Harvard Classics,'' P. F. Collier, 1909, [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC07236932&id=Mi0LAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA6-IA1&lpg=PA6-IA1&dq=autobiography+of+benjamin+franklin&as_brr=1#PPA57,M1 p. 57]; also available from Project Gutenberg as [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/148 etext #148], search on "deist."</ref>

Franklin himself clearly states in his autobiography that he was a deist earlier in his life. "Some books against Deism fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle’s Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist."<ref>''The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,'' in ''The Harvard Classics,'' P. F. Collier, 1909, [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC07236932&id=Mi0LAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA6-IA1&lpg=PA6-IA1&dq=autobiography+of+benjamin+franklin&as_brr=1#PPA57,M1 p. 57]; also available from Project Gutenberg as [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/148 etext #148], search on "deist."</ref>

Benjamin Franklin guided the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania, which was chartered as nonsectarian. According to the University, it was "a new type of learning institution, that unlike other American Colonial colleges, would not focus on education for the clergy, but would instead prepare students for lives of business and public service. The proposed program of study would become the nation's first modern liberal arts curriculum."[http://www.upenn.edu/about/heritage.php] In his 1749 ''Proposals relating to the education of youth in Pensilvania[sic],'' he outlines an essentially secular curriculum. Religion is to be taught under the rubric of History; Franklin, however, makes a point of saying that

Benjamin Franklin guided the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania, which was chartered as nonsectarian. According to the University, it was "a new type of learning institution, that unlike other American Colonial colleges, would not focus on education for the clergy, but would instead prepare students for lives of business and public service. The proposed program of study would become the nation's first modern liberal arts curriculum."[http://www.upenn.edu/about/heritage.php] In his 1749 ''Proposals relating to the education of youth in Pensilvania[sic],'' he outlines an essentially secular curriculum. Religion is to be taught under the rubric of History; Franklin, however, makes a point of saying that