Ben Franklin on Religion (America, churches, Baptist, gospel)
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The best way to worship God is by doing good deeds among your fellow humans.
Doctrinal differences do not matter so long as you are doing good deeds among humans.
Ben Franklin donated to all of the churches in Philadelphia and was one of the biggest donors to the Jewish Synagogue despite not being Jewish. Back then there was no government social safety net and the churches made up that difference. Franklin wanted to support these civic institutions that eased the suffering of the poor with food and clothing and took in the homeless on cold winter nights.
Many churches still to this day do great feats of charity, because that is how you truly honor God.
The best way to worship God is by doing good deeds among your fellow humans.
Doctrinal differences do not matter so long as you are doing good deeds among humans.
Ben Franklin donated to all of the churches in Philadelphia and was one of the biggest donors to the Jewish Synagogue despite not being Jewish. Back then there was no government social safety net and the churches made up that difference. Franklin wanted to support these civic institutions that eased the suffering of the poor with food and clothing and took in the homeless on cold winter nights.
Many churches still to this day do great feats of charity, because that is how you truly honor God.
In fact when govt, at all levels, when considering social services for the disadvantaged, see faith institutions as an important ally to deliver the services - be it emergency, food and shelter, medical care, and just compassion and human touch. And they deliver.
For a guy that doesn't believe in doctrine, he's speaking doctrine.
Which doctrine? Not the doctrine of eternal perdition or of utter depravity, surely. It sounds to me like basically humanist values, which have some overlap with church doctrine and perhaps a deist or universal reconciliation view of religious faith. We are all in this together, and should help and be kind to one another. That is something that one would think all religions could share and cooperate on.
As government collapses around us, the churches have an opportunity to return to their roots of doing practical good works of mercy and kindness. I wonder how many of them will seize it? I know the sect I came out of would see no-strings-attached charity as the dreaded social gospel.
Which doctrine? Not the doctrine of eternal perdition or of utter depravity, surely. It sounds to me like basically humanist values, which have some overlap with church doctrine and perhaps a deist or universal reconciliation view of religious faith. We are all in this together, and should help and be kind to one another. That is something that one would think all religions could share and cooperate on.
As government collapses around us, the churches have an opportunity to return to their roots of doing practical good works of mercy and kindness. I wonder how many of them will seize it? I know the sect I came out of would see no-strings-attached charity as the dreaded social gospel.
Saying that doctrine doesn't matter is a doctrinal statement.
The best way to worship God is by doing good deeds among your fellow humans.
Doctrinal differences do not matter so long as you are doing good deeds among humans.
Ben Franklin donated to all of the churches in Philadelphia and was one of the biggest donors to the Jewish Synagogue despite not being Jewish. Back then there was no government social safety net and the churches made up that difference. Franklin wanted to support these civic institutions that eased the suffering of the poor with food and clothing and took in the homeless on cold winter nights.
Many churches still to this day do great feats of charity, because that is how you truly honor God.
Ben Franklin is one of few people in history who I admire. I love his "13 Virtues", AND, that he actually worked on them, and incorporate them into his character.
Ben Franklin is one of few people in history who I admire. I love his "13 Virtues", AND, that he actually worked on them, and incorporate them into his character.
How many people do that today?
Have you ever read his writings on the death of a friend? It’s very comforting. He writes that we are all invited to a banquet in heaven and there is a place set for each of us.
“Our friend and we are invited abroad on a party of pleasure—that is to last for ever. His chair was first ready and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniently start together, and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow, and we know where to find him.”
Ben Franklin is one of few people in history who I admire. I love his "13 Virtues", AND, that he actually worked on them, and incorporate them into his character.
How many people do that today?
It doesn't take away from Franklin's interest in virtue to point out that he wrote the essays "Fart Proudly" and "Old Mistresses' Apologue" (aka: On Choosing a Mistress). Franklin also had an admirable "don't give a fig" streak when it came to the opinions of others. He also understood that integrity, charity, loyalty, and other great virtues are not canceled by one's private personal habits.
For a guy that doesn't believe in doctrine, he's speaking doctrine.
Hi,
I didn't do the best job describing it. Ben Franklin does not say that he 'doesn't believe in doctrine,' but rather that doctrine from church to church doesn't matter as long as they are doing good deeds to humankind. So he doesn't really care about doctrinal differences so long as good is being done.
For example, some churches back then would argue about whether or not to have ceremonies that resembled Catholic ceremonies or about baptism. Franklin donated to all religious organizations in Philadelphia, because they all did charity.
Hi,
I didn't do the best job describing it. Ben Franklin does not say that he 'doesn't believe in doctrine,' but rather that doctrine from church to church doesn't matter as long as they are doing good deeds to humankind. So he doesn't really care about doctrinal differences so long as good is being done.
For example, some churches back then would argue about whether or not to have ceremonies that resembled Catholic ceremonies or about baptism. Franklin donated to all religious organizations in Philadelphia, because they all did charity.
However, Franklin, as one of the messengers of the Enlightenment to America, abandoned his religion as an adult in favor of reason and science and the man-made ethics of that movement. https://hollowverse.com/benjamin-franklin
I wonder why some people believe one has to abandon their religion to seek enlightenment!?
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