[weikel]

Ben Franklin recognized the old protestant work ethic was good for capitalism but Ben himself was a staunch deist.

[crystalk]

So do as he says, not as he does. Typical American. Listen to him but don't imitate him.

[Sci Fi Guy]

Not to argue a minor point, but that Franklin was a deist is debateable. If I remember correctly toward the end of his life Franklin wrote about God intervening in human affairs, which is not the view of deism.

Also I rememmber reading several years ago, an article in national review about the effects of protestantism in Latin America. It surprised me since Buckley is a good catholic. The Article talked about there being a theological economic lift. That Protestant churches with their decentralized power structure, emphasis on personal responsibility and personal study (i.e. everyone needs to read), would have a positive effect on the economy.