In Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, he starts his essay by expressing gratitude to God for the happiness and success he has encountered in his life. Franklin believes that it is through God’s kind Providence that he has found the means and achieved success. This quote emphasizes Franklin’s connection with God and his recognition of how God has impacted his accomplishments. Religion plays a significant role throughout Franklin’s biography.
Benjamin Franklin is against organized religion, including attending Church, donating to pastors’ ideas, and following what he sees as arbitrary rules. However, he firmly believes in the existence of god. According to him, all it takes for someone to believe in god is sincere prayer, virtuous behavior, and philanthropy. Despite frequently discussing different religions, Franklin emphasizes that he does not adhere to any particular religious belief system. Instead, he expresses his own individual way of discussing and believing in god. Religion has been a significant aspect of Benjamin Franklin’s life from the beginning.
Benjamin Franklin’s parents, especially his father who was a minister, were deeply religious. At first, Franklin shared their beliefs until his love for reading and writing took hold. In his own words, Franklin stated that his parents instilled religious values in him during his childhood but when he reached the age of 15 and started questioning various ideas presented in the books he read, he began to doubt the concept of revelation itself (Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 73). This period marked the beginning of Franklin’s independent formation of personal perspectives and choices.
Despite the risks involved, Franklin’s questioning of the solidarity of his religion at that time demonstrated his strong belief and confidence. He expressed his opinion, stating, “Tho’ I seldom attended any Public Worship, I had still an Opinion of its Propriety, and of its Utility when rightly conducted…” (Franklin, Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 94). This statement reflects his respect for those who regularly attend church, despite his own infrequent attendance.
The passage discusses Benjamin Franklin’s unorthodox approach to religion and his belief in a higher power. Despite rarely attending the local Presbyterian minister’s sermons or giving them much attention, Franklin is still willing to financially support the minister. This exemplifies Franklin’s progressive mindset as he challenges conventional religious beliefs that do not resonate with him. He explains that his personal faith incorporates elements from various religions, making it distinct and not affiliated with any specific sect. While not overly devout, Franklin can be considered a religious individual due to his belief in God and his commitment to his own customs and traditions. Nevertheless, religion does not take center stage in his discussions.
Benjamin Franklin stands out as a distinctive figure of his time, valuing and respecting the importance of granting others the freedom to practice their own religious beliefs. This characteristic sets him apart from others. Moreover, he openly expresses his dissatisfaction with certain religions, clarifying why he never embraced any of them. This mindset significantly contrasts with the prevailing attitude during Franklin’s era when most individuals disregarded other religions due to their unwavering loyalty to their own faiths. Franklin’s ability to perceive flaws in different religions arises from discrepancies he discovered in books that contradicted specific religious teachings. In contrast, Franklin still maintains belief in the existence of a higher power and finds comfort in this conviction, using it as motivation for continuous personal development and striving towards becoming the best version of himself.
Benjamin Franklin was dedicated to living a virtuous life, performing good deeds, and praying sincerely. Religion played a significant role throughout his entire life. He recognized the flaws in organized religion and openly opposed it. However, he still credited God for his achievements and did not feel obliged to follow others’ rituals and traditions strictly. Instead, he found his own effective way of expressing his beliefs.
