United States History Question of the Day
Answer and Explanation

"Franklin Drawing Electricity From the Sky"
by Benjamin West, 1816
 Image Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Question 1046:

Which of the following terms probably most accurately characterizes the religious perspective of both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson?

    (A)    atheist
    (B)    agnostic
    (C)    theist
    (D)    deist
    (E)    pantheist

Answer:
     (D)    deist
Explanation:

Both Franklin and Jefferson were probably deists, acknowledging a divine force but denying the existence of a personal God impacting human behavior. As Enlightenment-influenced thinkers, they looked to the natural world for truths. Franklin's parents hoped he would be a minister, but could not afford the education. While not a supporter of any organized church, Alfred Owen Aldridge noted he chose not to "wither Christianity by ridicule or bludgeon it to death by argument." Jefferson was a firm believer in religious freedom and authored the Virginia Resolution, partly because of his dislike of the established Anglican Church in Virginia. He compiled the Jefferson Bible which removed the miracles but retained the teachings of Jesus. In 1819 he wrote "I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know."
Tell your friends and colleagues about the U.S. History Question of the Day. The goal is to have 1,000 subscribers by the test day of May 8, 2009.

You can visit the U.S. History Resources website to find other aids for students and teachers, including lectures, charts, links, and short quizzes.

If you would like to unsubscribe from this list, please send an email with the subject "Unsubscribe."