Benjamin Franklin's religious faith in "Autobiography"
Benjamin Franklin's narrative accounts in his "Autobiography" provide details surrounding his life as a young man, printer, philosopher, scientist, and eventual framer of the U.S. Constitution. In his memoir, Franklin provides his readers insightful thoughts about the principles in life he subsisted to, which made him successful and a contented individual throughout his life. Moreover, he had also included in his reflections thirteen (13) virtues, which he believes are essential for his own model of a successful life.
The message of "Autobiography" is simple: the author wants to convey the fact that humankind, specifically human beings, has the potential to become 'perfect.' That is, individuals can better their lives and live satisfactorily by subsisting to the virtues and success model that Franklin enumerates, discusses, and recommends in "Autobiography."
It is evident that the "Autobiography" is laden with Franklin's commentaries about life in general, as well as suggested traits that individuals should have to live life at its fullest. His success model, enumeration of the 13 virtues, and discussion of the perfectability of the human being is synonymous with moralist philosophy. Furthermore, Franklin's discussions resound of the Catholic and Christian teachings and principles. It is surprising, then, that Franklin claims...
This becomes a point of discussion among individual who wanted to explore further into the great man's moral philosophy and beliefs.
This paper discusses Benjamin Franklin's religious faith as illustrated in "Autobiography." In discussing his religious faith, this paper posits that even though Franklin does not believe in any one religion, his moral philosophy is a combination or mixture of religious principles and beliefs that are universally found among the world's religions. This illustrates how the fusion of these religious principles makes up Franklin's moral philosophy in life -- that is, his "religious faith."
Although a member of the Presbyterian Church, Franklin does not consider himself an active practitioner of the religion he was born with. In "Autobiography," there is proof that indeed, he does not believe in any of the religions extant in the world today. On this issue, Franklin explains, "I had been religiously educated as a Presbyterian; and tho' some of the Dogmas of that Persuasion, such as the Eternal Decrees of God, Election, Reprobation, etc. appear'd to me unintelligible, others doubtful, and I early absented myself from the Public Assemblies of the Sect, Sunday being my Studying-Day, I never was without some religious Principles..." This is a direct testimonial from the great man himself, a man known for his virtuosity…
