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Deism was an uncommon belief in the 1700 s. Deism is the religious belief that the course of nature demonstrates the existence of God, and that all formal organized religion is superfluous and not needed. Three of the most famous men of the 1700 s, Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson show some deistic beliefs, however, there is a great amount of variation in their views, and they disagree about whether their views should be made public. Thomas Paine had extreme deistic beliefs in relation to Franklin and Jefferson. He believed in one God and no more, in some sort of an afterlife, equality for men, and that religious duty consists of doing justice, loving mercy, and making others happy. Paine believed that, All national institutions of churches were human inventions set up to terrify, and enslave mankind and monopolize power and profit.
He describes the connection between church and state as adulterous and compares the priesthood to witchcraft. He states that all religious books of revelation are the same and I disbelieve them all. He uses the story of Mary and Joseph to say that all religions are hearsay upon hearsay, and I do not choose to rest my belief upon such evidence. Paine does, however, respect Jesus real character saying, He was a virtuous and an amiable man. Paine has published all of his beliefs in his book The Age of Reason. Compared to Paine, Ben Franklin s deistic beliefs are minimal and he holds beliefs that are more traditional.
He believes in, one God, Creator of the Universe. That he governs by his providence. That he ought to be worshiped. Franklin believes that religious duty is doing good to others.
He believes in man s immortal soul and the afterlife. He thinks that a man s actions determine the treatment that he will receive in the afterlife. Franklin thinks that Jesus, system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw or is likely to see Franklin thinks that the church as Jesus left it is good, but the corrupting changes that have taken place over the years in the church are not good. Franklin does not want his views to be made public. He is a very weak deist who is elderly when he exposes his beliefs.
He says about all other Christian sects I have never opposed any of their doctrines, I hope to go out of this world at peace with them all. Thomas Jefferson s beliefs are a middle ground between those of Paine and Franklin. Jefferson is referred to as a Christian Deist. He is opposed to the, corruptions of Christianity but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself.
He is both a Christian and a deist. Jefferson was extremely concerned about his views becoming public because it would, betray the common right of independent opinion, by answering a question of faith, which laws have left between God and himself. The Constitution of the U. S.
grants its citizens freedom of religion, and Jefferson did not want to influence anyone one way or the other. The Deistic beliefs of these three men are varied in degree. Thomas Paine is an extreme deist. Thomas Jefferson is a strong deist. Benjamin Franklin is a weak deist. The views of these three men would have gotten them into political trouble if they were made public, but Paine made his beliefs clear and open for everyone to read.
Jefferson and Franklin were worried about public opinion, and had more to lose than Paine did if their beliefs met harsh criticism. Jefferson was the President of the United States, and Franklin was a well-respected diplomat, publisher, and inventor. Thomas Paine was a revolution stirrer and wherever he went he became involved in revolutionary movements or tried to start them himself.
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Research essay sample on Thomas Paine Ben Franklin
