Different literary writers have different views on humanity. Many American writers discuss these views. The most outspoken American writers spend a lot of time talking about this topic. In this article we will examine Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards' views of humanity by examining their personal backgrounds, religious views, and the evidence in their writings. Benjamin Franklin's father, a candle maker, wanted to give one of his sons as a tithe. She chose Franklin, her tenth child. He sent him to study as a priest. Because he was not a successful student, he was sent back to his father after only two years. When he was thirteen he was sent by his brother to learn to be a printer. While there he educated himself by reading various books. He thought his intelligence was limited, so he ran away to start his own printing company. After he retired, he devoted himself to science and became an inventor. On the other hand, Edwards had a very different background. Both his father and grandfather were ministers. At the age of thirteen he was sent to Yale College and graduated four years later with an advanced degree in theology. He later served as a pastor in New York for a short time, but returned to Yale College as a tutor. He later married and after two years of marriage his grandfather died and he was chosen to take his grandfather's place in the pulpit. That said, you can see that Franklin and Edwards lived different lives. Now we will look at the religious views of Franklin and Edwards. Franklin thought spirituality was not a concern. He thought that the center of life was man and not God. He thought that man was fundamentally good and that prudence, hard work and frugality were what made man good, not good God... half of paper......and, Edwards and Franklin had very different opinions in their writings they were very explicit. After comparing and contrasting Franklin and Edwards' views of humanity by examining personal backgrounds, religious views, and evidence in their writings, it is clear that their views were very different. Franklin's education was based on the philosophy books he read while Edwards' education was based on the study of theology and a biblical background. Franklin's religious views were that humanity was fundamentally good, but Edwards' views were that man was fundamentally evil. The evidence in Franklin's writings showed that he relied on being morally good without the grace of God, while Edwards understood that the only way man could become good is through the grace of God. Although both men were very influential and important in history, their opinions were very different.