1. Ben Franklin - Interested in the morality of religion, not the theology. His letters contain polytheistic claims, but he also wrote extensively on a Providential God. He never attended any church with constancy but he tried to be friends of all of them. He thought Jesus was a great person who set a great example, but he was unsure of his divinity (although he never really studied the matter in depth).
2. Thomas Jefferson - Mixed between deistic and Unitarian, he believed the Bible was corrupted but Jesus was a great person, all claims of divinity hogwash. He was silent about his religious views except in private letters to friends, in public he was much more respectful. He only really spoke about religion to like-minded people, and less to people who might disagree.
3. Thomas Paine - You despise the Bible and are eager to let everyone know about it. But you claim you are respectful.
(Note: I know they were not atheists but oh well)
2007-12-06 11:18:57 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
as a woman, I am not like a man at all.
I think the Bible is a myth, the same as any other. Myths have historical and cultural value. I am not sure if Jesus was a real person or not, but what is written about him is folklore and myth, not fact. Religion is not moral, it doesn't teach morals, and the Bible is a pretty crappy guide to morality.
2007-12-06 11:25:08 · answer #1 · answered by atheist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gee, just a little research would have revealed the following.
1 Franklin would ride horseback for miles to hear a particular
preacher minister the Gospel.
2. Jefferson issued an executive order asking congress to fund Roman Catholic Priests to minister the Gospel to American Natives in the Virginia Area.
3. Paine repented of having written "Common Sense" and
had a deathbed confession of having made peace with
his "Creator"
I Cr 13;8a
2007-12-07 01:17:01 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More like Mr Franklin. Though the trouble with the writings on Jesus is that it seems that any one can read what they want into them, so I'm not really interested in that side of theology, more the mythology.
2007-12-06 19:26:50 · answer #3 · answered by numbnuts222 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say I'm most like Thomas Jefferson but I don't mind talking to people who disagree because I am mature enough to accept differences between us.
2007-12-06 19:29:20 · answer #4 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. More like George Washington. He just be bopped through life as an atheist. As president he used to attend church with his wife but always left just before the sermon. An aide told him, "Mr. President, your actions on Sunday in leaving church early might have a negative impact on your standing." "I'll fix it, don't worry," George said. Never went to church again.
2007-12-06 19:30:44 · answer #5 · answered by Sarrafzedehkhoee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mmm, Jefferson I suppose... But slightly on the side of Paine. I don't know. I really would rather be compared to Jeffery Lebowski.
2007-12-06 19:24:04 · answer #6 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm usually more like Jefferson, but I can easily become like Paine when I am provoked.
2007-12-06 19:23:36 · answer #7 · answered by Subconsciousless 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A healthy mix of all 3 I think.
2007-12-06 19:23:05 · answer #8 · answered by Dashes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not Atheist but I stronly believe in TJ's defintion.
2007-12-06 21:23:44 · answer #9 · answered by batain2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3. Thomas Paine...just being honest...
2007-12-06 19:30:20 · answer #10 · answered by Moxie! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋