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To: BroJoeK; GarySpFc
>>The only "silence" here is your refusal to read what the Founders themselves wrote. To cite one example, in 1771 Franklin described himself as a "deist", though he still considered himself Christian.<<

And still you infer that Franklin denied the trinity yet refuse to see his own words on the subject.

“As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupt changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his divinity; tho' it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and I think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble ...[ Van Doren, Carl. Benjamin Franklin. (1938). Penguin reprint 1991]

Franklin didn’t deny the trinity per his own admission when he said, “Tho it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it”. He took no particular position.

2,858 posted on 01/05/2014 7:25:25 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ)
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To: CynicalBear
CynicalBear: "Franklin didn’t deny the trinity per his own admission when he said, “Tho it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it”.
He took no particular position."

In fact, Franklin's quote said nothing about the trinity at all, merely expressed doubts on the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth.

Your full quote from Franklin reflects exactly my own opinion, one over which CynicalBear and many others here are howling "God Damned Heretic".

So I am here to request that you treat such views with forbearance and respect, whether they come from Franklin or from yours truly, BroJoeK.

2,909 posted on 01/09/2014 5:21:30 AM PST by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective....)
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