Benjamin Franklin’s Virtues
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He has worked as a writer, printer, and statesman. As a printer he is famous for the Poor Richards's Almanac which was published 1732-57. In science he experimented with electricity, in addition he invented bifocal glasses, the Franklin Stove, and the lightning rod. His most important work was as a diplomat to in Europe. His ideals make him one of the most important figures in U.S. history.
An important point in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is Franklin’s views on religion. Glazener says in her article, "Franklin searches for a religious lowest common denominator, weighted toward the needs of civil society". Although Franklin does not disrespect or oppose Christian beliefs, he makes clear that religion does not help society. He also believes that Churches pushes people to become believers rather than good people. In Franklin’s autobiography, he prepares a list of moral virtues to try and obtain moral perfection. The list consists of ways to be good Samaritans; he merely uses some key points from Christianity such as frugality, sincerity, and chastity. This can be seen as a small attempt to secularize.
This leads to the idea of secularization, which possibly could have drastically changed modern American culture. Puritans have made clear that religion is to be incorporated to everyday life, but according to Franklin it segregates us. “…as I have found them more or less mix’d with other articles, which, without any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serv’d principally to divide us, and make us unfriendly to one another” (62). This idea is significant because it is against Mary Rowlandson’s narrative, William Bradford’s story, and Puritan beliefs. In history religion is a dividing factor, like the Forth Crusade in 1240 or the existence of the numerous branches of Christianity. If America were to have drawn away from religion it may be possible that America may not be pluralistic today; resulting in different values that Americans believe in today.
"Benjamin Franklin." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 14 Sep. 2009
Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Mineola: Dover Publicatons, Inc., 1996. Print.
Glazener, Nancy. "Benjamin Franklin and the Limits of Secular Civil Society." 203-231. Duke University Press, 2008. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. King Library, San Jose, CA. 16 Sep. 2009
I agree with you that he was one of the important people in United States History because of his contribution to the country. Furthermore, he invented different things and did a lot of public services for Americans.
ReplyDeleteIn the other hand, his autobiography really tells us that he accomplishes a lot of things that make him very popular not only in America but all over the world. I think the autobiography part of your blog would be better if you put how he work hard just to get the life that every Americans want which is to become successful.
The religion is a big part of American culture, but Franklin does not believe the words in the bible. He thinks that God give him brain just to think for himself. Is it really true that Franklin believes that religion segregates us? In your blog you talk about the virtues that he uses to make a moral perfection. In this case, I think Franklin uses them also in order to improve himself and keep on track what are the things that he needs to fix in his life.
I agree Franklin was an important people in the American history with his thoughts and being so involved in the country.
ReplyDeleteIn you talk about Francklin, in the first paragraph, i felt that there should of been something about how he got to where he is in, also why is he important to the American history.
In your post you argue that Franklin believes that religion is a wall that separates people from each other. You should find out more about that subject and state more evidence.Yes Franklin does not believe in the bible, but does that make him non religious. He believes that all people should be good, and that his virtues are the virtues that people should consider. He also believes there is a god, its just not Christ. In my eyes it seems as if Franklin creates a region of his own.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on how Benjamin Franklin secularized religion and how he made "virtues" become the definition of a good person. But at the same time, Benjamin Franklin did call himself theist which means that he believed in a God, so I can't agree with you when you say that Franklin looked down on religion. He believes that religion is a good thing because it keeps people moral and good.
ReplyDelete@Scarletxskylark: It is important during this period of time not to conflate "religion" with "a belief in God." Franklin is clearly deeply critical of organized religion as evidenced in his efforts to create his own religion. During this period of time, educated folks in America were trying to figure out a way to reconcile a belief in the supernatural with there abiding distrust of religion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that if Americans were not more involved in a strict religion, they would be more willing to become better people for the sake of it instead of for what their religion tells them to do. Franklin makes it clear that a person can still believe in a higher being but that they can also become better people by themselves by following his set list of virtues. By following Benjamin Franklin's kind of religious beliefs, people can still believe in God but are not forced to follow the strict rules of a formal religion.
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