The Rationalist

The Puritans beliefs and Rationalists beliefs are completely opposite. Rationalist believed in a natural law, that God created them but left it up to them to discover and figure out things. Puritans on the other hand feel that God controls everything and if thought otherwise would be going against God.



In The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin he demonstrates rationalism. In the biography he says, " I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into." He is trying to become clean and one with God. He is doing this by making a list and doing experiments to try and reach moral perfection himself.




Relaxation- being able to reflect on things
Tranquility- being in a calm state of mind, not getting overwhelmed
Compassion- caring and giving more back to the word
Solemn- getting things done when they need to be
Reliable- people can count on you do get things done
Joyful- loving who you are and the way you live
Respectful- polite to everyone
Budget- spend money where is needed and save all you can
Achievement- try your best at everything you do, and go for all the goals you want.
Loyalty- being faithful to those you love
Dignity- being worthy
Silence- keeping to yourself those things you shouldn't say
Cleanliness- in your body, clothes, and where you live.



The list stated above would be my thirteen virtues to approve upon my life. I don't think I could reach moral perfection this way, but I know I could become a better person. Even if someone followed these rules throughout their life without faith and believing in God your only doing it for yourself. I believe God would like you to have values and not do certain things, but I think it's more of believing in him. No matter how many values I make for myself I don't think I would reach moral perfection. I think it would just satisfy me knowing that I am living my life the way I feel would make me better.

In the Declaration of Independence they state "That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." To me this means that when the government is not fulfilling the needs of the people that they are able to come in and alter the rules making them beneficial to everyone. Another statement they make is, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpation's, 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." This is basically they same concept. If the people are in danger or over ruled it is their job to take control for their safety. "Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government." Means that now it is a necessity and they have to change the form of government. This would definitely be a rationalist statement, because a puritan would never dare to change any rule unless someone was told by God to do so.