Re: Falwell & Franklin (#47571)
by Jason Pappas on November 29, 2004 at 9:04 AM

I noticed that also and was surprised and dismayed.

Then I thought, maybe he’ll actually motivate someone to read Franklin. Perhaps, they’ll pick up a copy of the Autobiography. They’ll discover his more liberal ecumenical attitude; and notice Ben’s criticism of his own Presbyterian minister for being too focused on the 1st 5 commandments instead of how to live this life better. Perhaps they’ll even notice that Ben mentions Socrates far more often than Jesus. Maybe they’ll even read Plato next! Perhaps these homophobes will be enlightened about the founders of Western Civilization.

What are the chances?

Re: Falwell & Franklin (#47606)
by Jeanine Ring on November 29, 2004 at 3:48 PM

Quite. Amusing, in a way, that Falwell would choose Benjamin Franklin as a saint of patronage. If memoty serves, the good moralist had a very fine reputation among my own sisters in his day.

regards, v
*
Jeanine Ring )O(

Re: Falwell & Franklin (#47607)
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra on November 29, 2004 at 4:09 PM

Ah, my friends, life is filled with wonderful ironies, isn't it? :)

Re: Falwell & Franklin (#47620)
by Roderick T. Long on November 29, 2004 at 5:56 PM

I wonder whether Falwell would approve of this essay of Franklin's?

http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/franklin/franklin.html