Difference between revisions of "Talk:Benjamin Franklin"
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In 1792, in the letter he wrote to Ezra Stiles, he expresses "doubt as to his Divinity," further suggested by his referring to Jesus as "Jesus of Nazareth" rather than as "Jesus Christ." In adulthood he was never a member of any organized denomination. In the letter to Stiles it is clear that he admires the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus, and that he is not ''opposed'' to Christianity... nor to any sect which embodies "the fundamental Principles of all sound Religion" as he describes them. | In 1792, in the letter he wrote to Ezra Stiles, he expresses "doubt as to his Divinity," further suggested by his referring to Jesus as "Jesus of Nazareth" rather than as "Jesus Christ." In adulthood he was never a member of any organized denomination. In the letter to Stiles it is clear that he admires the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus, and that he is not ''opposed'' to Christianity... nor to any sect which embodies "the fundamental Principles of all sound Religion" as he describes them. | ||
| − | He clearly does not meet definition #1. He might possibly be considered to meet definition #2. | + | He clearly does not meet definition #1. He might just possibly be considered to meet definition #2. |
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| + | In these respects, his beliefs were not unlike those of Thomas Jefferson, and less extreme than those of Thomas Paine. [[User:Dpbsmith|Dpbsmith]] 18:14, 28 January 2007 (EST) | ||
Revision as of 23:14, January 28, 2007
Deist vs. Christian
One dictionary definition of "Christian" is "One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus. 2. One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus."
In 1792, in the letter he wrote to Ezra Stiles, he expresses "doubt as to his Divinity," further suggested by his referring to Jesus as "Jesus of Nazareth" rather than as "Jesus Christ." In adulthood he was never a member of any organized denomination. In the letter to Stiles it is clear that he admires the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus, and that he is not opposed to Christianity... nor to any sect which embodies "the fundamental Principles of all sound Religion" as he describes them.
He clearly does not meet definition #1. He might just possibly be considered to meet definition #2.
In these respects, his beliefs were not unlike those of Thomas Jefferson, and less extreme than those of Thomas Paine. Dpbsmith 18:14, 28 January 2007 (EST)