文摘
英文文摘
Acknowledgements
Chapter1 Introduction
1.1 The scope and purpose of the thesis
1.2 Method of the study
1.3 Organization of the thesis
1.4 Literature review
1.5 Definition of pragmatism and religion
Chapter2 The sources of Benjamin Franklin's religious thoughts
2.1 Macro environment in the eighteenth-century American context
2.1.1 Social context in general
2.1.2 Puritanism and its innate dissenting
2.1.3 The Enlightenment and Deism
2.1.4 The religious reaction and clashes
2.2 Benjamin Franklin's family and his career
Chapter3 Benjamin Franklin's early rebellion to his Puritan heritage
3.1 Benjamin Franklin's early radicalism
3.1.1 Benjamin Franklin's early skeptic nature
3.1.2 Benjamin Franklin's radicalism based on metaphysical deduction
3.2 Benjamin Franklin's more temperate religious attitude
3.2.1 Benjamin Franklin's early religious pluralism
3.2.2 Benjamin Franklin's inclination to special providence
Chapter4 Benjamin Franklin's religious thoughts and the pragmatics spirit
4.1 Benjamin Franklin's Deistic ideas
4.1.1 Deism in general
4.1.2 Benjamin Franklin's inclination to Deism
4.2 Benjamin Franklin's deviation from Deism
4.2.1 Special providence
4.2.2 Prayer
4.2.3 Defending a Presbyterian preacher
4.3 Benjamin Franklin's experimental approach to religion
4.3.1 Experimental approach to natural things
4.3.2 Experimental approach to institutions
4.3.3 Experimental approach to people
Chapter5. Conclusion
Chronology
Bibliography