Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a name that needs no introduction. You’ve likely heard of him as a Founding Father, an inventor, and maybe even as a guy who enjoyed flying kites in thunderstorms. But Franklin was more than just a brilliant mind; he was a product of the Enlightenment, and one of the most influential figures in shaping the ideals that would go on to form modern democracy—not just in America, but around the world.

What’s less known about Franklin, though, is his unique relationship with religion. Rather than accept traditional teachings at face value, Franklin continually questioned, revised, and sought answers that made sense to him—and that included attempting to create what he called a “more believable” Bible.

His life and work offer a window into the ideals of the Enlightenment, particularly its emphasis on reason over dogma, and this way of thinking had profound consequences for shaping the governments and societies of his time and beyond.

Franklin and the Bible: A Man of Reason, Not Dogma

It’s no secret that Franklin wasn't what you’d call a devout churchgoer. Though he was raised in a Puritan household, by the time he became a young man, his views had shifted substantially. Franklin never outright rejected religion; instead, he became a self-described Deist, believing in a higher power, but not subscribing to the idea that religion and religious texts in their traditional form held all the answers.

In fact, Franklin famously felt that the Bible in its original form left something to be desired. So much so that, at one point, Franklin set out to create what he called a “more rational” or “more believable” Bible. He wasn’t trying to mock faith, but instead, he wanted clarity, logic, and reason inserted into matters of spirituality. Franklin was a man who believed that, for something to be truly meaningful, it had to hold up under the analysis of rational thought.

For example, Franklin rewrote the Book of Genesis, aiming to strip it of anything he found impractical or irrational. He sought to create a version of the Bible that reflected a more scientific and philosophical version of the world—one where nature itself and natural laws were at the forefront.

Franklin’s approach reflected the broader ideals of the Enlightenment, where thinkers insisted on questioning old assumptions, whether those assumptions were about religion, the natural world, or the structure of society. For him, faith in reason could coexist with belief in a higher power, but the key was that reason had to lead the way.

This attitude extended beyond religion and had direct implications for how Franklin envisioned a just society.

Franklin’s Influence on the Enlightenment and Government

Franklin didn’t just talk about reason—he lived it. As an inventor, a writer, and a statesman, Franklin applied the principles of logical thought and evidence-based decision-making throughout his life. But his deepest and most lasting contributions lay in political thought.

At the heart of the Enlightenment was the belief that governments should serve the people and not the other way around—a radical idea in a world of absolute monarchs and divine rulers. Remember, this was an era when kings claimed to rule because they were ordained by God. But the Enlightenment challenged that system. If reason could illuminate the natural world, it could also shine a light on better ways to organize society.

In his own way, Franklin embodied these ideals when crafting the foundation for modern democracy. He absorbed the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, who argued for natural rights, and Montesquieu, who advocated for the separation of powers. Franklin—always thinking about how to apply reason to real life—helped to lay the groundwork for constitutional government, an idea that would become the very backbone of the United States and inspire revolutions and democratic movements across the world.

Franklin himself played a pivotal role in drafting key documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, alongside other Enlightenment-influenced thinkers like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The principles laid out in these documents—liberty, equality, natural rights, and the separation of church and state—were directly drawn from Enlightenment ideals.

But here was the key challenge: How do you create a government that doesn’t rely on kings and priests to dictate laws and morality? What happens when you empower people to think and choose for themselves?

Franklin and the other Founding Fathers used reason as the guide.

A Secular Government Rooted in Enlightenment Ideals

One of Franklin’s most lasting contributions was helping to ensure that the new American government was secular.

Often misunderstood today, the concept of separation of church and state wasn’t about being anti-religion, but about allowing freedom of thought. Franklin and his contemporaries had seen firsthand how governments that tied themselves closely to religion could be corrupt, oppressive, and stifle human progress. Franklin didn’t want the new American government to make the same mistake.

By advocating for a secular government, Franklin ensured that no single religion would dictate how all citizens had to live their lives. It wasn’t that Franklin himself rejected God—in fact, he often talked about how belief could guide moral character—but he believed that every person should be free to find their own path to truth.

This was revolutionary thinking at the time. Governments in Europe were still heavily controlled by the church or religious leaders. But Franklin understood that freedom of faith could only be meaningful if freedom from coercion by the state was guaranteed.

In short, Franklin’s pragmatic approach to religion—his willingness to tweak and question texts like the Bible—translated into his belief in intellectual freedom and played a major role in shaping the democratic principles of self-determination and individual liberty that are now considered foundational to modern societies.

Franklin’s Influence Spreads—From America to France

While Franklin was deeply involved in shaping the American Revolution and the foundation of its government, his influence didn’t stop there. In fact, one of his most impactful—but often overlooked—contributions was on France, particularly in the years leading up to the French Revolution.

In 1776, Franklin sailed to France as a diplomat, seeking support in the American fight for independence from Britain. His mission was a success—Franklin charmed the French elite and secured pivotal financial and military aid for the American cause. But his influence in France went far beyond diplomacy.

Franklin was seen as a symbol of Enlightenment ideals in France. He embodied the spirit of liberty, reason, and self-determination, values that resonated deeply with French philosophers and intellectuals already questioning the absolute power of the monarchy. At the time, France’s own system was plagued by inequality, economic crisis, and widespread dissatisfaction with the monarchy, and Franklin’s example of a self-made man operating in a republic based on reason provided inspiration for those who envisioned a similar break from tyranny.

Franklin’s success in helping establish the democratic United States became a spark for revolution in France. While he wasn’t directly involved in the 1789 French Revolution, the success of the American Revolution—and Franklin’s role as its champion—emboldened French thinkers and revolutionaries. The French saw that uprising against a king, once thought impossible, had led to the creation of a new nation based on liberty and reason.

The French Revolution, although its own unique situation, can be viewed as a side effect of the success of American independence, and by extension, Franklin’s efforts in France. His work not only secured France’s aid in America but also demonstrated that Enlightenment ideals could overthrow age-old structures of power and lead to new ideas of democracy that influenced not just one nation, but the world.

Franklin’s Legacy: A Life Guided by Reason

Though he passed away in 1790, Franklin’s influence still lingers today in how democratic nations operate and in the core values of western society. Freedom of speech, freedom of belief, the importance of reason in making public policy—these are all things Franklin believed were essential to improving human life.

He was ahead of his time in understanding that reason has the power to liberate people—not just from political tyranny, but from mental and spiritual tyranny as well. And by applying reason to the creation of better systems of governance and justice, Franklin played a significant role in ushering in the New Age of Reason.

He would be the first to admit that progress takes time, reason isn’t always the easiest path, and challenges still stand in the way. But he knew that to truly embrace Sapere Aude—"dare to know"—meant that you must have the courage to question, rethink, and improve.

So, where does that leave us today?

The New Age of Reason is a continuation of Franklin’s legacy—a call to be brave enough to ask hard questions, to use reason as our guide, and to work toward a world shaped by curiosity, critical thinking, and freedom. Whether that’s in government, religion, science, or everyday life, Franklin's life is a reminder that progress starts with daring to think differently.