Welcome to The Junto!

At age 21, Benjamin Franklin formed most of his ingenious acquaintances into a club called The Junto. Members declared a love of humanity and liberty, and swore to seek and share impartial truth. The Junto met each Friday and discussed readings, philosophy and current events, trying to draw useful lessons from each. The aim was self improvement, but also service to the community and mankind.

A club with such lofty goals may seem naïve and pretentious until we remember that few men succeeded in improving themselves, their communities and mankind as significantly as Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin borrowed The Junto from author Cotton Mather, and I have borrowed it from him. This Junto utilizes an internet format that I believe Franklin would approve of were he here today.

Individuals who know the concept of The Founding Fathers Return but have not read my novel often assume our Founding Fathers would be disgusted by modern America. Having spent over 4 years researching our Founders, I realize the devil is truly in the details, and that meticulous translations of their views are rarely this simplistic.

Members of The Junto swore to seek truth with impartiality, discarding dogma, opening their minds and hearts to all possibilities. This difficult task requires not just intelligence and diligence, but character. As former Marine Commandant General C.C. Krulak noted, "Being a man or woman of character is not an easy task. It requires tough decisions, many of which put you at odds with the more commonly accepted social views of the times." This is an excellent summary of our Founding Fathers in modern America. Their colonial philosophies are truly at odds with the commonly accepted social views of our times, and understanding exactly why will forever alter your view of them, and our nation.

Wisdom can sear as well as illuminate; the truths disseminated in The Junto and The Founding Fathers Return may make readers uncomfortable or even offend. I apologize if this is the case, but my primary concern is transmitting our Founding Fathers to you, their posterity, with unflinching accuracy. As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "Here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead." With that credo in mind, I welcome you to The Junto, where you can view modern America through our Founding Fathers' eyes.

Welcome to The Junto!

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