Founding Fathers

Debate on the First Amendment, House of Representatives, August 15, 1789

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Congress August 15, 1789 The most complete record of Congressional debate on the first amendment was in the House of Representatives. In it, you can see James Madison attempting to cobble together a winning majority by assuaging concerns of certain Congressman who feared that this amendment would limit the ability of the states to regulate or support religion. Madison assured them the states would still be free to treat religion as they liked. Aug. 15 The House again went into…

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Silence Dogood, No. 9 (Benjamin Franklin) July 23, 1722

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin July 23, 1722 Franklin was just 16 when he wrote this attack on religious hypocrites, using his alias “Silence Dogood.” He later recalled that as word spread that Silence was actually Benjamin, “my indiscreet Disputations about Religion begun to make me pointed at with Horror by good People, as an Infidel or Atheist.” Corruptio optimi est pessima. To the Author of the New-England Courant. Sir, It has been for some Time a Question with me, Whether a Commonwealth…

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Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America by Benjamin Franklin

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin A sympathetic description of the patience and civility of the Indians, Including on matters of faith. Savages we call them, because their Manners differ from ours, which we think the Perfection of Civility. They think the same of theirs. Perhaps if we could examine the Manners of different Nations with Impartiality, we should find no People so rude as to be without Rules of Politeness, nor any so polite as not to have some Remains of Rudeness The…

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Plain Truth: or, Serious Considerations On the Present State of the City of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Franklin, 1706)

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin 1706 In “A Tradesman of Philadelphia,” Franklin waded into a vexing religious/political dilemma of his time. Pennsylvania was controlled by Quakers, who were pacifists. But Indians, allied with the French, were raising the Pennsylvania border towns, scalping and terrorizing citizens. Franklin complimented the sincerity of the Quakers while nonetheless calling upon other Pennsylvanians to pay for the colony’s defense. It is said the wise Italians make this proverbial Remark on our Nation, viz. The English feel, but they…

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, May 9, 1753

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin May 9, 1753 Philadelphia May 9th. 1753 Sir I received your Favour of the 29th. August last and thank you for the kind and judicious remarks you have made on my little Piece. Whatever further occurs to you on the same subject, you will much oblige me in communicating it. I have often observed with wonder, that Temper of the poor English Manufacturers and day Labourers which you mention, and acknowledge it to be pretty general. When any…

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Richard Price, October 9, 1780

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin October 9, 1780 Franklin criticizes the Massachusetts Constitution for allowing religious tests for public office but points out that the state is at least more liberal than it used to be. He also utters the memorable sentiment (shared by Madison, Jefferson and others) that if there is no government support for religion, good faiths will thrive while ineffective ones will decline. I am fully of your Opinion respecting religious Tests; but, tho’ the People of Massachusetts have not…

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, March 9, 1790

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin March 9, 1790 This was Franklin’s final and most famous description his personal faith. He offers a concise “creed” and expresses skepticism about the Divinity Jesus. He died the next month, on April 17, at the age of 85. Stiles was President of Yale College. Philada March 9. 1790 Reverend and Dear Sir, I received your kind Letter of Jany 28, and am glad you have at length received the Portraits of Govr Yale from his Family, and…

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth Hubbart

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin February 22, 1756 Though he later called himself a Deist, Franklin shows in this condolence note his belief In a soul and afterlife. “Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals?” Philadelphia, February 22, 1756. Dear Child, I condole with you, we have lost a most dear and valuable relation, but it is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter…

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to an Atheist

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin December 13, 1757 Frankln here tries to dissuade an atheist from writing an article attacking religion. Franklin makes the argument that while a rare few might be able to get along without the help of religion, the masses need religion to keep them straight. To ————— Cravenstreet, Dec. 13. 1757 Dear Sir, I have read your Manuscrit with some Attention. By the Arguments it contains against the Doctrine of a particular Providence, tho’ you allow a general Providence,…

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, 1763

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin June 6, 1763 George Whitefield was a leader of the Great Awakening, a period of evangelical resurgence around 1838-1840. Though Franklin disagreed with Whitefield theology, he helped promote his efforts by publicizing him in the Pennsylvania Gazette, which he owned. However, he disagreed with Whitefield’s notion that the grace of God, rather than good works, determined salvation. FOR my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favors, but…

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