After reading part two of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography I am a little bothered by his attitude. To start off the second half of your book with letters from your friends begging you to come back and write because their lives would not be complete unless they know what happened to you is a little much. For a man who is claiming to just be writing for his son about the anecdotes from his family Franklin is a little proud. The entire second half of the autobiography consists of Franklin's discussion of how perfect he is in his quest for perfection. He is undoubtedly a very good human being and many of us could learn great lessons from him. However, he wastes no time agreeing to the fact and giving you ten different reasons why that's right.
In addition, I found his discussion of religion interesting. I agree with Franklin when he discusses the fact that many religions share the same values. However, I believe that Franklin getting mad at the preacher's interpretation of a scripture and leaving the church forever a little much. Franklin is such a know- it- all that a difference of opinion was enough to send him home to study the "little Liturgy" that he had whipped together in his spare time. From this point Franklin goes into great detail about his quest for perfection. The very thought alone is preposterous if he is a Christian. Perfection on this earth was only in the form of Jesus Christ. Period. No matter how many dots he keeps track of he will never be perfect.
Finally, the fact that Franklin sees it suitable to place Jesus Christ in the same category as Socrates is almost laughable. On advising the world to practice humility Franklin states that we should, "imitate Jesus and Socrates". Sure, the salvation of man is really comparable to Socrates' ideas on life. I honestly believe that Franklin has such a warped view of himself that he believes that man has the ability to reach the level of The Lord. In my opinion Franklin needs a big reality check.
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Although you state that “getting mad at the preacher's interpretation of a scripture and leaving the church forever [is] a little much,” I think that Franklin departs for a very legitimate reason. He states:
“And I imagin'd, in a sermon on such a text, we could not miss of having some morality. But he confin'd himself to five points only, as meant by the apostle, viz.: 1. Keeping holy the Sabbath day. 2. Being diligent in reading the holy Scriptures. 3. Attending duly the publick worship. 4. Partaking of the Sacrament. 5. Paying a due respect to God's ministers. These might be all good things; but, as they were not the kind of good things that I expected from that text, I despaired of ever meeting with them from any other, was disgusted, and attended his preaching no more. I had some years before compos'd a little Liturgy, or form of prayer, for my own private use (viz., in 1728), entitled, Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion. I return'd to the use of this, and went no more to the public assemblies.”
Nowhere does Franklin denounce God or Christianity; he only finds fault with the message his preacher sends and this argument seems very legitimate. What is spiritually fulfilling about praying on Sundays and being nice to ministers? Franklin desires to use religion as guide for living a decent life and treating others well, interpreting the scriptures for their moral values. Yet, he can’t accomplish this goal when his preacher has different intentions. In order to practice his faith the way he wants, he has to leave the church – but not religion. As he says, his “scheme was not wholly without religion” but there was “no mark of any of the distinguishing tenets of any particular sect.” Thus, his version of true reverence does not require a specific church, only a particular practice.
Also, Franklin does not strive for perfection, but moral perfection. This is a different task which he admits to be a “bold and arduous project.” He does not want to be on the same level as the God, who thanks for his good fortune, but, instead, be the most decent person possible. I think this is a very noble goal that everyone should aim to accomplish.
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