The Religion of Benjamin Franklin

'The Religion of Benjamin Franklin' offers a meticulous exploration into the spiritual convictions and philosophical outlook of one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers. Written by James Madison Stifler, this work delves beyond Franklin’s scientific and political achievements to examine the internal landscape of his faith and moral philosophy.Through a careful analysis of Franklin’s own writings, correspondence, and public life, the book traces his transition from a strict Puritan upbringing to his later embrace of Deism and the values of the Enlightenment. Stifler provides a balanced view of how Franklin’s religious views informed his ethics, his dedication to public service, and his vision for the nascent United States. Readers will gain insight into Franklin’s 'Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection' and his unique approach to organized religion, which emphasized social utility and tolerance over dogmatic adherence.This study serves as an essential resource for those interested in the intellectual history of the 18th century, the intersection of faith and the American Revolution, and the personal character of a man who helped shape the American identity. It remains a significant contribution to the understanding of the diverse religious landscape of the early American republic.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.