Rung Three thoughts: A Franklin short on religion

Reader’s note: Reminder that Rung Three is “There is one God who made all things.” Here, I share a snippet from a letter Franklin wrote.

I am reading The Religion of Benjamin Franklin by a preacher, James Madison Stifler. His sister writes him to encourage him to return to their brand of Protestantism. I am less interested in the reasons for Franklin’s pushing back and what those doctrines were, and I am more interested in Franklin’s accepting tenor of religious discussion:

There are some things in your New England doctrine and worship, which I do not agree with; but I do not therefore, condemn them, or desire to shake your belief or practice of them. We may dislike things that are nevertheless right in themselves. I would only have you make me the same allowance, and have a better opinion both of morality and your brother.

There are real divisive differences in behavior and morals that bring people and groups into conflict. But, from a wider vantage point, in general, it’s probably best to see the shared glory of Forest of Religion than to fight about the Doctrinal Trees.

You can read the short letter in its entirety starting here on page 23.