Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, as deists, believed that a Supreme Being granted humans the capacity for moral behavior, but did not engage in divine revelation or intervention after the creation of the universe.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deists like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin believed d. that a Supreme Being endowed human beings with a capacity for moral behavior. This reflects a core aspect of deism, which embraces the concept of a creator who does not directly interfere in human affairs post-creation. Their belief system rejected doctrines such as divine revelation, original sin, the deity of Christ, and apocalyptic prophecies, instead favoring rational thought and moral conduct based on reason.
Deism, an intellectual movement of the Enlightenment, posited that the universe's complexity and order suggested the existence of a grand designer. However, once the universe was set into motion, this Supreme Being, akin to a watchmaker, allowed it to run its course without further interference. This theology influenced many philanthropic endeavors of Franklin, including the establishment of libraries, societies for inquiry, hospitals, and educational institutions. The moral compass within individuals, thus, was considered a divine endowment guiding towards virtuous living, rather than adherence to religious dogmatism or fear of punishment.