Capitalism and Religion in the Works and Lives of Franklin and Equiano Essay

Capitalism and faith are 2 subjects which appear frequently in both The narration of Benjamin Franklin and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, because these were cardinal parts of the lives of these deuce custody. both(prenominal) men were able to be players in the capita heelic grocery while still following a spiritual doctrine because from each sensation man chose which was much authoritative to him- capitalist goals or Christian morals. For each man, the whizz which was less important submitted to the one which was more(prenominal) valuable to him. Both men take part in capitalism and devotion, unless Franklin places capitalism initiatory and Equiano places religion first.Each man make life choices according to this power structure of importance, sacrificing parts of the less important in order to pursue and pass by in the one they held dearer. Franklin, a hard-working and frugal businessman who many view as said embodies the capitalist spir it, made his spiritual choices around his identity as a capitalist, while the extent of Equianos participation and supremacy in the capitalist market was determined by his faith. Both spiritual, both capitalist businessmen, Franklin and Equiano brought together these two seemingly opposed components of their lives by blending the two and taking aspects from each to use in their participation in the virtually new(prenominal), entirely al federal agencys letting the one they considered more important to trump the a nonher(prenominal) in situations where a choice between capitalism and religion had to be made.As Benjamin Franklin explained in his history, he neer doubtedthe existence of the deity (62), and he described several occasions when he asked God for tending in times of need, so it is clear he was spiritual. Franklin wished to be chastely upright, nevertheless he disliked organized religion and found that in each spiritual sect, the religious beliefs he held were m ixd with opposite articles, which, with give away any tendency to inspire, promote, or conform morality, servd principally to landmark us (62). For this reason, Franklin did non attend church regularly or set up by any one religion, although he agreed with bits and pieces of many several(predicate) faiths. scarce he considered himself a moral man, and wished to achieve the same topic encouraged in Christian teachings moral perfection (63).For this reason, Franklin decided to throw his get list of virtues to abide by. Rather than abandoning faith altogether because he could non find a church which was in line with his way of thinking, Franklin created his own personal religion-The Art of Virtue. Present in Franklins list of 13 virtues are several which are in accordance with Christianity-temperance, sincerity, justice, chastity, humility-but some key elements of the Christian religion deal been removed from the doctrine by which he lives his life.Unlike Christianity, Frankl ins commandments make no hang of fiscal accumulation. In many religions, it is stipulated that one who is wealthy cannot reach heaven. In the Bible, rescuer tells his disciples that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 1024). Because this does not serve Franklins interest in capitalist success, Franklin omitted from his virtues any mention of greed or accruement of wealth, instead including virtues which he thought were more important, and which served his capitalist aspirations more suitably.Several of his virtues are also non-Christian but intelligibly in the spirit of capitalism-resolution, frugality, and industry are not tenets of the Christian religion, but were essential in Franklins mind for success in the wanton market and therefore essential in the dogma he followed. By creating and following his own list of virtues, Franklin was able to pick and choose the vanquish from both Christianity a nd capitalism. However, Franklins religious inclinations were formed by, and altered to fit, his capitalist aspirations, and his virtues were created in order to best serve his goals in the capitalist market. Franklin harmonize capitalism and religion by extracting from Christianity the beliefs which were most conducive towards capitalism, then adding morals of his own which were driven directly towards capitalist success. Therefore, he was able to participate in both, following a self-made religion that served the goals of capitalism.Olaudah Equiano, on the other hand, considered himself a Christian above all other labels. To him, religion was the most important aspect of his life, and he was willing to sacrifice everything else before he would agree his religious beliefs. Equianos first introduction to the capitalist system came when he arrived at the port in Bridge Town, Barbados, and was placed in a yard with other slaves to be sold as a commodity. But Equiano did not particip ate actively in the capitalist system as a person (rather than an article of trade) until much later, when he bought and sold tumblers and other small objects during his trips at sea to earn enough funds to barter for his freedom from his master.If it had not been necessary for Equiano to acquire his freedom, it is possible Equiano would never scram entered the business arena. Equiano was not interested in having more money than what was requisite to survive because being greedy was contrary to his religious beliefs, and from the moment of his mutation to Christianity, Equianos faith guided his every decision. Unlike Franklin, Equiano did not cheer the spirit of capitalism. To him, money meant freedom, and later, the choice to go where he wanted and not be tethered to one ship or master, but Equiano did not equate money with happiness and instead looked to religion for solace in an unfamiliar world.Capitalism and Christianity were not at odds for Equiano because he never did a nything non-Christian in order to achieve success in the capitalist world. When tribe owed Equiano money for goods delivered but not paid for, Equiano did not act out in revenge towards his debtors. He did what he could deep down the bounds of the law, and when that did not amount to anything, Equiano forgave the debts and simply continued on, because of his moral outlook on life.Equiano recounted unconditioned times the cruelties black men, both slaves and free men, endured at the hands of black-and-blue men, such as giving Equiano however but very deaf(p) payment (95) after taking goods from him. He can do vigour about these injustices, and instead trusts that God will give them their punishment in the afterlife.Too often also, to my knowledge, our clerks, and many others, at the same time have pull acts of violence on the poor, wretched, and helpless females Is not this one gross and crying sin enough to bring down Gods judgment on the islands? He tells us the oppressor a nd the oppressed are both in his hands and if these are not the poor, the broken-hearted, the blind, the captive, the bruised, which our Saviour speaks of, who are they? (80)Equiano relies on faith to dole out appropriate rewards and consequences after death and so is able to endure and observe many injustices without acting in yellow bile or violence towards his oppressors.Rather than being a cutthroat businessman, Equiano worked honestly, earning money to live but never valuing material possessions over his religious morality. Equiano was a Christian who happened to be living within a capitalist world, but the most important part of his life, his faith, was never on the line because of capitalism-Christianity incessantly came first.There are only two examples in Equianos autobiography of him doing something that goes against his religious beliefs. The first comes in Chapter 5, when Equiano swore that he would spend a daytime in London in rambling and sport (70). Shortly afterwa rds, Equiano matt-up terrible about saying something rashly and without thinking, and he asked God for amnesty he acknowledged his transgression to God, and poured out his nous before Him with true(prenominal) repentance, and with earnest supplications Equiano besaught him not to abandon him in his distress (70). Equiano immediately seek to apologize to God for his wrong actions, and felt extremely guilty for having committed what appeared to be a small sin. The second occasion, in chapter 8, is very similar.Equiano cursed, diabolical the vessels bottom out, (112) but immediately afterwards his scruples smote him for swearing, and he experienced guilt for his seemingly petty misdeed. These two examples disposition how strictly Equiano followed his religious teachings-he considered the act of swearing to be a big(p) affront to God, and feared for his salvation because of his small sins. To him, straying from Christian morals at any time in any part of his life was unacceptabl e, and this governed his actions as a player in the capitalist market as easy as in every other arena of his life.Equianos success as a businessman was not as great as it could have been if Equiano had been a more competitive salesperson and truly wanted success in the capitalist market, but he chose to sacrifice this pecuniary success in order to follow his religious morals more strictly. His priorities determined his actions-as a capitalist Christian, rather than a Christian capitalist, Equiano made choices that put his faith first, and instead of striving for wealth and success, endeavored towards the redemption of his soul and ever-living happiness. The actions Equiano took during his life were trivial to him as a devout Christian, because he believed that he would spend the rest of eternity in Heaven as reward for his morality while on earth. For Equiano, capitalism was just a system in the world of man, and money was not worth risking his eternal well-being over.Both Benjam in Franklin and Olaudah Equiano were successful businessmen who lived their lives according to religious principles-Franklin by his made-to-fit capitalist-influenced list of virtues, and Equiano by the teachings of Christianity and the Bible. But Franklin was a bigger financial and public success, because his achievement as a capitalist was most important to him. Franklin laid out a list of virtues for himself in order to pave the way for the most possible financial success and public acclaim-his religion served the spirit of capitalism. Equiano was only a mediocre financial success because he was not oriented towards the accumulation of wealth.Instead, he chose to achieve on the religious front. Equianos actions within the capitalist framework were mere details in the larger picture of his life as a good Christian. Both men were passionate-Franklin about capitalism and Equiano about his Christian faith-and both sacrificed other parts of their lives in order to keep intact their num ber one priority. Franklin was religious in the way that most promoted capitalist success, and Equiano was a capitalist businessperson only in the ways that were aligned with his religious beliefs. They reconciled capitalism and religion by choosing one over the other and allowing the lesser to function on a smaller scale and only within the framework of the more important.