Abraham Lincoln's Religious Uncertainty

[Crabtownboy]

Unlike that of recent American presidents, so eager to testify about their "come to Jesus" experiences, the exact nature of Abraham Lincoln's religious faith is hard to pin down.

In early campaigns for Congress, opponents were able to tar him as a "scoffer" of religion. But Lincoln emphatically denied the charge, saying he couldn't vote for an enemy of religion. Lincoln is the only U.S. president who never joined a church, but he read the Bible frequently, and he told a friend in the year before his death: "Take all of this book upon reason that you can, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier and better man."

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/history/2009/02/12/abraham-lincolns-religious-uncertainty.html

 

[LeBuick]

There was a list of presidents who never clearly stated their denomination.

Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson

George Washington was a mystery also. Some say Episcopalian and we also know he was a Mason.

Some say TJ may have been a deist.

As for Lincoln, I believe he was a Christian because of his thirst to study scripture and the wisdom he showed through understanding and fluent use. I don't thin he has a specific denominational allegiance but I also don't think it's necessary for eternal life.

 

[J.D.]

There's a strong argument that Lincoln was never truly converted. Even the strong pro-Lincoln historian Peter Marshall (junior) agrees that Lincoln was not a Christian until the third year in the White House.

I recommend the DVD on the Civil War debate between Peter Marshall and Steve Wilkins. It's available at http://store.nicenecouncil.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=51

 

[J.D.]

And I realize that this thread was an attempt to cast shadows on an American icon. So Washington was a Mason. Does it really matter?

 

[Alcott]

Only if you like shadows of compasses or aprons.

And I thought Eisenhower also never joined any church. He might have at one time been considered of his parents' faith, but not as an adult, because their was one opposed to all war.

 

[Revmitchell]

And I realize that this thread was an attempt to cast shadows on an American icon. So Washington was a Mason. Does it really matter?

Yea he likes to do that.

 

[LeBuick]

And I realize that this thread was an attempt to cast shadows on an American icon. So Washington was a Mason. Does it really matter?

To many here on this board, yes... They will say one can't be a Mason and a Christian also. However, the truth is many of our founding fathers were Mason's.

 

[LeBuick]

Yea he likes to do that.

I just tell it like it is Bro... Must be the preacher in me.

 

[Marcia]

There was a list of presidents who never clearly stated their denomination.

Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson

George Washington was a mystery also. Some say Episcopalian and we also know he was a Mason.

Some say TJ may have been a deist.

Whatever Jefferson was, he could not have been a Christian since he rejected all the miracles of Jesus. Didn't he tear out all the supernatural events in the NT and create the "Jefferson Bible?"

 

[StefanM]

Most of the founding fathers were nowhere near similar to any form of a modern evangelical Christian. Anyone who supposes otherwise is either ill-informed or willfully ignorant.

 

[LeBuick]

Most of the founding fathers were nowhere near similar to any form of a modern evangelical Christian. Anyone who supposes otherwise is either ill-informed or willfully ignorant.

I didn't want to say it that way but I suspect you're fairly correct. There are so many on this board who believe we are a "Christian" nation founded on "Christian" principles by our founding fathers. I agree they used the words God and Creator a lot but I think they had a different understanding than we do today.