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Essay on Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards
Benjamin Franklin believed in deism. According to deism believe any man will begin his journey neither good nor bad. God has told him the two pathways the right and the wrong. However, Edwards was a Puritan. According this belief man starts off with bad but once he starts practicing bible he can improve himself to the extent to enter paradise. He never believed that man could perfect himself. He thought that God has complete authority and control on man and if he ever turns his back on God and leaves him then his ending is in hell.
Benjamin was more optimistic thinker of his time. He used to approach any matter of life with logic and reasoning. His approach was scientific rather than religious. While Edwards was more religious. His faith was in God and trust in Him. He believed that all authority and power is in God’s hand and humans or any other creature is completely dependent on God for His mercy and providence (Edwards, 1955). His believe that all wellness, happiness and destruction on earth is in the hands of God. He is the only provider, sustainer with complete control and power on man, earth, sun, moon and everything. When nations deviate from the way of life God has commanded in His scriptures, He can punish and He does punish.
Edwards firmly believed in God’s oneness and His sovereignty. Edwards regarded man as completely dependent on God and his fear of God is seen in his writing. His believe that all knowledge comes from God and none has the power of getting knowledge of the future without the will of God (Edwards, 1955). Only God has the knowledge of future and the past.
In view of Franklin religion is to practice by way of useful virtues. He wrote a number of essays..............
