Were Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin Deists?

Were Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin Deists?

I submit for the review of anyone who might be interested in the question the following information available on the indicated site.

http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=58

Benjamin Franklin was frequently consulted by Thomas Paine for advice and suggestions regarding his political writings, and Franklin assisted Paine with some of his famous essays. This letter  is Franklin's response to a manuscript Paine sent him that advocated against the concept of a providential God.


TO THOMAS PAINE.


[Date uncertain.]


DEAR SIR,


I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence, that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion, that, though your reasonings are subtile and may prevail with some readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general sentiments of mankind on that subject, and the consequence of printing this piece will be, a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits against the wind, spits in his own face.


But, were you to succeed, do you imagine any good would be done by it? You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous life, without the assistance afforded by religion; you having a clear perception of the advantages of virtue, and the disadvantages of vice, and possessing a strength of resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common temptations. But think how great a portion of mankind consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced, inconsiderate youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great point for its security. And perhaps you are indebted to her originally, that is, to your religious education, for the habits of virtue upon which you now justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent talents of reasoning upon a less hazardous subject, and thereby obtain a rank with our most distinguished authors. For among us it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots, that a youth, to be raised into the company of men, should prove his manhood by beating his mother.


I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt unchaining the tiger, but to burn this piece before it is seen by any other person; whereby you will save yourself a great deal of mortification by the enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of regret and repentance. If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it. I intend this letter itself as a proof of my friendship, and therefore add no professions to it; but subscribe simply yours,


B. Franklin

The content of this letter is quite significant since it reveals some specific theological views of both Paine and Franklin. The text of Franklin's letter suggests that Franklin objects to Paine's allowance of only a general Providence and not a particular Providence. Franklin suggests that the Deity should be worshipped, His displeasure feared, and His protection sought, and that this view brings benefit to the moral condition of mankind.

Deism as a theology denies both a general and a specific Providence as it portrays God as absent from his creation. No true and consistent Deist would believe in a general Providence much less a specific Providence, or that His displeasure should be feared, and His aid sought. Nor would the God of the Deist have the least interest in the virtue or moral exertions of any man.

Franklin is aware of his limitations in matters of theology and takes note of the hazards of theology...of which his view is that Paine also is not competent and urges that Paine's manuscript be burned with dispatch.

That Paine is clearly not a Christian is evident from his Age of Reason. What may be inferred from that work and from this letter is that he is unwilling to dispense with a concept of general Providence.

Although both Franklin and Paine were widely read, neither gives any evidence of being educated in matters of hermeneutics or theology. It is my considered opinion therefore, that neither Paine nor Franklin were theologically Deist in their personal beliefs.
The widespread negative reaction to Paine's Age of Reason suggests that many of these 'founders' were sufficiently 'Christian' to be deeply offended by Paine's work. The Age of Reason reflects an erroneous understanding of many major Christian doctrines including: special revelation, prophecy, incarnation, christology, canon, and many others . In Paine's work Common Sense, his treatment of I Sam 8 is limited by his understanding of the text as being merely anti-monarchical. In the Age of Reason he repeatedly demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the discipline of hermeneutics and contempt for theology as a discipline, (which he embraces only long enough to call himself a Deist).