4,994
edits
Changes
Ref for "thoroughgoing Deist" in his autobiography
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 proposed saying prayers at the [[Constitutional Convention]] '''<need citation for this>'''.
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 proposed saying prayers at the [[Constitutional Convention]] '''<need citation for this>'''.
A quote from Franklin's autobiography would seem to clear up this debate. "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."'''<need citation for this also>'''
A quote from Franklin's autobiography would seem to clear up this debate. "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's "Creed"==
==Franklin's "Creed"==
In adulthood, in 1792, shortly before his death, he wrote, in a letter to Ezra Stiles, president of Yale:
In adulthood, in 1792, shortly before his death, he wrote, in a letter to Ezra Stiles, president of Yale: