The Rationalists

The Puritans and Rationalists were almost completely different. The Puritans believed that God controlled everything and decided everything. The Rationalists believed that there was a God but we shouldn't live in fear of him. The Rationalists believed in natural law which was that people could improve their lives through science. Puritans believed you couldn't improve your life. Rationalists believed that through science we could find most of the answers to the universe. Puritans believed that only God has the answers and it would be an insult for us to try and understand the world.



I think a good illustration of Puritan thought would be how many Christians and other religions believe that what is going on in the world today is prophecies being full filled and that the end times are coming soon. This would also be a good illustration of Rationalists thought because scientist believe that what is going on today is just due to the Earths position and pollution putting holes in our atmosphere or that its all science related.

A good example that Benjamin Franklin is a rationalists is his list of 13 virtues to achieve moral perfection. This is a good example because if he was a puritan he wouldn't believe that he could achieve moral perfection without praying to God for moral perfection but Franklin believed he could do it in a logical manner.

13 Virtues

1. Tranquility - Be calm when others are angry.
2. Respectibility - Show respect to anyone that deserves it.
3. Patience - Don't rush things and they will come.
4. Truthfulness - Be real with everyone.
5. Joy - Be happy and it will make life better.
6. Labor - Always have a job as something useful.
7. Justice - Don't commit crimes.
8. Optimism - Think of the best an not the worst.
9. Compassion - Show love to everyone even if they are different.
10. Devotion - Be dedicated to someone or something.
11. Determination - Finish what you start.
12. Humble - Be modest, don't boast.
13. Obedience - Do as your parent and elders say.