The Rationalists

There is a big difference in the Puritans and the Rationalists. They both believed in god but the Puritans were a lot serious about their beliefs. The Puritans believed that they were supposed to live like god did. The Rationalists believed that god put humans here to find a way to live. The Rationalist put their faith in science, they thought that they could live using science. The Puritans though that god didn’t want human beings to make their own rules and live the way they wanted to. They believed that humans should not try to change the way the world was and that they should not interfere with gods work that he has done on earth.


Benjamin Franklin is Rationalist because he believed that all men were created equally unlike the Puritans who thought that god picks certain people to bless. He is Rationalist because he always wanted to discover new things and create new things. Benjamin Franklin always wanted an explanation for every thing. He used science to help him find reasons why things were meant to be. He lived life like a normal person would, he’s not so uptight and doesn’t think that people will go to hell for doing small things like having a drink every once in a while, the Puritans would have called that a sin.

"I was born and bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated." That is a reason why he is Rationalists because he thinks that god gave men intelligence and wants us to figure out things that are in the world.

"And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind providence, which lead me to the means I used and gave them success. My belief of this induces me to hope, though I must not presume, that the same goodness will still be exercised toward me, in continuing that happiness, or enabling me to bear a fatal reverse, which I may experience as others have done: the complexion of my future fortune being known to Him only in whose power it is to bless to us even our afflictions." This paragraph also explains why he was a Rationalists because he believe in god but he though that god wanted humans to have happiness and that god don't expect everyone to be exacally like him but to following his footsteps. "A question was once, somehow or other, started between Collins and me, of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning, and their abilities for study. He was of opinion that it was improper, and that they were naturally unequal to it. I took the contrary side, perhaps a little for dispute's sake." In those sentences he is saying that everyone is equal and have that same ability and rights, no matter if your a woman, young, different religion or different race everyone is able to do anything.

He is also Rationalist because he knows that god gives second chances. What I mean by that is for an example he made a list of 13 ways to improve his life. He did not try to be perfect and do everything that god did. Even though he didn’t live exactly like god he tried to make his life a lot better than it was and he knew that he wasn’t perfect. Most of the founding fathers believed that god gave humans the power to create new things and also to discover. So you can say that most of the founding fathers are Rationalist.

Ligeancy- faithful service, too protect and secure justice.

Honesty- whatever I do or say will be the truth no matter how important it is supposed to be kept a secret.

Responsibility- whatever choices I make in life good or bad, I will be willing to face the consequences without blaming anyone else.

Unique- to speak my mind, to be myself no matter if no one likes me, to have my own style and my own beliefs.

Peaceful- to try to make peace in the world and never cause a lot of disruptions.
Valiant- To be brave, to do things bravely.

Confessant- willing to talk to someone about my problems so I can get advice or help, not feel closed in about feelings and what’s going on in my life.

Understanding- try to see things from other peoples point of view, not to be selfish.
Reliable- people will be able to believe me and trust me to do things that I say that I’m going to do.
Reasonable- to have a reason to do the things I do, not to do things will effect others.

Compassionate- to have feeling for and understand the struggles that someone else has.

Selflessness- To think about the things I do before I do it and if it is helping people or hurting them.

Communicative- To communicate with others to see how they feel about things and if they think the same way I do about different situations.

By having those thirteen things I think that I could reach moral perfection. I say that because if I had those things then I would be a great person and I would have no reason to do things that I will regret. No one would then have any reason to dislike me and I would be a lot closer to god. I think that I would be closer to god because I think that that is how he expects humans to be instead of thinking about just yourself and being selfish all of the time. If everyone had those thirteen things then the world would be a better place.

"We hold these truths to be self-eviednce that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that amoung these are life, kiberty and the pursuit of happiness." That was an example of a Rationalists thought because Rationalists believe that everyone is created equal and that no one has certain powers even if they believe in god or not. "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." That was also a Rationalists thought because they are saying that god is not responsible for the things that happen on the earth and that it is up to the to control it by natural law. "That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. "That is a Rationalists thought because they thing that god gave humans the ability to run the earth and that everyone has rights, not just certain people.