Benjamin Franklin\'s Religious Faith in \"Autobiography\" Benjamin

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 not to believe in any one religion. 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 and goodness, a man who was able to live the life of an honest and righteous man who became one of the bastions of justice and nationalism as one of the framers of what came to be known as the U.S. Constitution.

Interestingly, despite Franklin's honest declaration of his non-subsistence for any religion, his principles in life resounds that of Catholic and Christian teachings, such as living life under the virtues of justice, temperance, industry, frugality, moderation, sincerity, among others.

A thorough look and study of "Autobiography" reveals that Franklin's "religious faith" is a fusion of the main principles that every individual knows as the path towards goodness, principles which are subsisted to by the world's religions.

Indeed, Franklin portrays the image of an individual who has reached the stage of self-actualization, illustrating a thorough understanding of life's realities and difficulties. In his memoir, he nevertheless claims to believe in the teachings and principles of the world's religions, where he states, "I never doubted, for instance, the Existence of the Deity, that he made the World, and govern'd it by his Providence; that the most acceptable Service of God was the doing Good to Man; that our Souls are immortal; and that all Crime will be punished and Virtue rewarded either here or hereafter; these I esteem'd the Essentials of every Religion...This Respect to all, with an Opinion that the worst had some good Effects, induc'd me to avoid all Discourse that might tend to lessen the good Opinion another might have of his own Religion..."