Browsed by
Category: Founding Fathers

Dialogue between Two Presbyterians, by Benjamin Franklin, 1735

Dialogue between Two Presbyterians, by Benjamin Franklin, 1735

Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin April 10, 1735 The person called “S” is thought to represent Franklin’s views. Franklin wrote this after a Presbyterian synod in Philadelphia had brought charges against a young preacher named Samuel Hemphill. He was accused of placing too much emphasis on morality rather than faith. Mr. Franklin, You are desired by several of your Readers to print the following Dialogue. It is between Two of the Presbyterian Meeting in this City. We cannot tell whether it may not…

Read More Read More

Benjamin Franklin’s Request for Prayers at the Constitutional Convention

Benjamin Franklin’s Request for Prayers at the Constitutional Convention

Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin July 28, 1787 The Constitutional Convention had been meeting for five weeks, and had hit a perilous deadlock. The large states were insisting that congressional representation be based on population; the smaller states wanted a one-state-one-vote rule. The entire effort to create a stronger union was in jeopardy. Eighty-one-year-old Benjamin Franklin, quiet during most of the deliberations, then addressed the group. According to James Madison’s notes, here is what happened next. Mr. President The small progress we have…

Read More Read More

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 1771

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 1771

Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin January 1, 1771 Written later in his life, this Autobiography recalled the phase when he called himself a “Deist.” Despite that appellation, he later did seem to believe that God intervened in the course of his life and America’s history, a not-very-Deist perspective. Part XX Before I enter upon my public appearance in business, it may be well to let you know the then state of my mind with regard to my principles and morals, that you may…

Read More Read More

Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion by Benjamin Franklin, November 20, 1728

Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion by Benjamin Franklin, November 20, 1728

Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin November 20, 1728 Franklin had difficulty imagining that the Supreme Being could possibly be interested in the petty needs – or prayers – of Earthlings. Yet He believed that humans have a powerful need “to pay Divine Regards to SOMETHING.” So, ever the engineer, Franklin concluded that God created a system of deputy gods, one for each solar system. Despite his Puritan upbringing, he envisioned a warm, loving God. “I should be happy to have so wise, good…

Read More Read More

A New Version of the Lord’s Prayer by Benjamin Franklin

A New Version of the Lord’s Prayer by Benjamin Franklin

Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin January 1, 1768   “Heavenly Father, may all revere thee, and become thy dutiful Children and faithful Subjects; may thy Laws be obeyed on Earth as perfectly as they are in Heaven: Provide for us this Day as thou hast hitherto daily done: Forgive us our Trespasses, and enable us likewise to forgive those that offend us. Keep us out of Temptation, and deliver us from Evil.” Reasons for the Change of Expression Old Version. Our Father which…

Read More Read More

A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain, by Benjamin Franklin

A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain, by Benjamin Franklin

Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin January 1, 1725 He wrote this detailed theological statement this when he was 19, in London. Whatever is, is in its Causes just. Since all Things are by Fate; but purblind Man, Sees but a part o’ th’ Chain, the nearest Link, His Eyes not carrying to the equal Beam. That poises all above. Dryd. To Mr. J. R. SIR, I have here, according to your Request, given you my presen Thoughts of the general State of Things…

Read More Read More

Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, October 9, 1775

Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, October 9, 1775

Comments 0 Comment

Abigail Adams October 9, 1775 Grieving over the death of his mother, Adams offers an extraordinary reflection on God, life and the afterlife I have not been composed enough to write you since Last Sabbeth when in the bitterness of my soul, I wrote a few confused lines, since which time it has pleased the great disposer of all Events to add Breach to Breach — “Rare are solitary woes, they Love a Train And tread each others heal.” The…

Read More Read More

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803

Comments 3 comments

Thomas Jefferson April 21, 1803 Dear Sir, –In some of the delightful conversations with you, in the evenings of 1798–99, and which served as an anodyne to the afflictions of the crisis through which our country was then laboring, the Christian religion was sometimes our topic; and I then promised you, that one day or other, I would give you my views of it. They are the result of a life of inquiry & reflection, and very different from that…

Read More Read More