Ben Franklin Part 2: An Appeal to God at the Constitutional Convention

In this episode of The Kubik Report, Victor Kubik continues his conversation with Greg Thomas about Benjamin Franklin, exploring the remarkable final chapter of Franklin’s life—his influence on the Constitution, his inventions, his opposition to slavery, and his complex religious beliefs.

At age 81, Franklin was the elder statesman of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. As delegates struggled to overcome deep divisions, Franklin reminded them of the limits of human wisdom and made a striking appeal for daily prayer. He asked how an empire could rise without God's aid if even a sparrow could not fall without His notice. Yet surprisingly, his motion was never brought to a vote.

The discussion also examines Franklin’s extraordinary inventive mind. From bifocals and the lightning rod to the Franklin stove, glass harmonica, flexible catheter, carriage odometer, and even wooden swim fins, Franklin continually searched for practical ways to improve everyday life. He refused to patent his inventions, believing they should benefit everyone.

Greg and Victor also explore a less understood side of Franklin: his religious philosophy. Franklin believed in a God who intervened in human affairs and heard prayer, while questioning traditional Christian doctrines concerning Jesus Christ. He nevertheless deeply respected Jesus' moral teachings and believed religion was essential to maintaining a virtuous society.

Finally, the episode examines Franklin's late-life commitment to abolition. Shortly before his death in 1790, he petitioned Congress to bring an end to slavery—one final example of a remarkable man whose ideas continued evolving throughout his long life.