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Thoughts about God

Thoughts about God and OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
by Rick Jenkins, Ed.D. (July 2016)

Most people understand that the founding fathers of the United States of America were strong Christians; people with a strong belief in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, in recent years, some people claim that this perspective on our founding fathers is incorrect, i.e., that our founding fathers were not very religious or Christian. The purpose of this document is to refute such incorrect perspective and to demonstrate that many founding fathers were indeed devout Christians.

George Washington
We'll start by examining George Washington as our nation started with him. George Washington was our first President; he was also a judge, a member of the Continental Congress, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and President of the Constitutional Convention. He is also referred to as the "father" of the country. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

  • "I now make it my earnest prayer the God would have you and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field; and, finally, that he would be most graciously pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation." June 8, 1783 in a letter to the governors of the states on disbanding the army." (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are." George Washington, The Writings of Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932), Vol. XV, p. 55, from his speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs on May 12, 1779. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)
  • "The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country." George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932), Vol. 5, p. 245, July 9, 1776 Order. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

James Madison
James Madison was from Virginia, wrote portions of the U.S. Constitution, co-wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton, and established the Democratic-Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson. He also was President from 1809 to 1817, after Thomas Jefferson. (Source: http://www.biography.com/people/james-madison-9394965)

Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, was a diplomat, scientist, and printer, and was the Governor of Pennsylvania. (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)

  • "Here is my Creed. I believe in on God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped." (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, is the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see." March 9, 1790 in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "Heavenly Father, May all revere Thee, And become They dutiful children and faithful subjects. May thy Laws be obeyed on earth as perfectly as they are in Heaven. Provide for us this day as Thou hast hitherto daily done. Forgive us our trespasses, and enable us likewise to forgive those that offended us. Keep us out of temptation and deliver us from Evil." Franklin's own version of the Lord's Prayer (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)

John Adams
John Adams was our second President. He also signed the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and was a judge and diplomat. (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)

  • "The Christian religion is above all the Religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of Wisdom, Virtue, Equity, and Humanity. Let the Blackguard Paine say what he will; it is Resignation to God, it is Goodness itself to Man." July 26, 1796, in his diary. (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen." December 25, 1813 in a letter to Thomas Jefferson. (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount contain my religion..." November 4, 1816 in a letter to Thomas Jefferson. (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "Jesus is benevolence personified, an example for all men. The Christian religion, in its primitive purity and simplicity, I have entertained for more than sixty years. It is the religion of reason, equity, and love; it is the religion of the head and the heart." (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)

John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was a U.S. Representative, a U.S. Senator, a diplomat, the Secretary of State, and the sixth U.S. President. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

  • "In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity." John Quincy Adams, An Oration Delivered Before the Inhabitants of the Town of Newburyport at Their Request on the Sixty-First Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1837 (Newburyport: Charles Whipple, 1837), pp. 5-6. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

Congress in 1854
Even Congress was aware of the importance of Christianity in the life of our nation.

  • "The great, vital, and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Journal of the House of the Representatives of the United States of America (Washington, DC: Cornelius Wendell, 1855), 34th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 354, January 23, 1856; see also: Lorenzo D. Johnson, Chaplains of the General Government With Objections to their Employment Considered (New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., 1856), p. 35, quoting from the House Journal, Wednesday, January 23, 1856, and B. F. Morris, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States (Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1864), p. 328. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee of Congress in 1854

  • "Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle... In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity... That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants." Reports of Committees of the House of Representatives Made During the First Session of the Thirty-Third Congress (Washington: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1854), pp. 6-9. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was a diplomat, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the third U.S. President. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

Some people claim that Thomas Jefferson was not a Christian - that he was a deist. A deist believes in a Supreme Being but that such being did not have relationships with people and did not intervene on behalf of people. These quotes should dispel such notion as I believe that Thomas Jefferson was a devout Christian. He may have practiced his Christianity differently, but he was a Christian.

  • "My views...are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the anti-christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others..." April 21, 1803 in a letter to Dr. Benjamin. (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus....I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus." (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man." (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)
  • "Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus....I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus." (Source: http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html)
  • "I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others." Thomas Jefferson, Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, editor (Boston: Grey & Bowen, 1830), Vol. III, p. 506, to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)
  • "I am a real Christian - that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ." Thomas Jefferson, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Albert Ellery Bergh, editor (Washington, D.C.: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), Vol. XIV, p. 385, to Charles Thomson on January 9, 1816. (Source: http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755)

Summary
While the above does not cover everyone that would be considered as a founding father, such as Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, and others, it does cover six significant founding fathers (five of which were Presidents) Congress, and a Congressional committee.

I would also refer to the Mayflower sailing from Plymouth, England, in 1620. Their intent was to establish a new church in the New World. (Source: http://www.history.com/topics/mayflower)

"The Pilgrims strongly believed that the Church of England, and the Catholic Church, had strayed beyond Christ's teachings, and established religious rituals, and church hierarchies, that went against the teachings of the Bible. . . They studied the writings of earlier Protestants and Separatists, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin " (Source: http://mayflowerhistory.com/religion/)

America was founded on three documents: "The Declaration of Independence; The Paris Peace Treaty of 1783, and the Constitution. These documents give conclusive proof that America is a Christian nation. One does not need a law degree or a degree in history to grasp this truth. It is obvious to anyone who does not have an agenda. Let us review the documents and show this proof." (Source: http://www.internationalcopsforchrist.com/proof-that-america-was-founded-as-a-christian-nation/)

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" From the Declaration of Independence. (Source: http://www.internationalcopsforchrist.com/proof-that-america-was-founded-as-a-christian-nation/)
"When the Constitution was completed on September 17, 1787, it was signed by the delegates then to be ratified by the states. The delegates signed the Constitution in the "Year of our Lord." This is a direct reference to Christianity. This is found in Article 7 which in part follows:"
"Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names, GO WASHINGTON-Presidt. and deputy from Virginia" (Source: http://www.internationalcopsforchrist.com/proof-that-america-was-founded-as-a-christian-nation/)
"The Paris Peace Treaty was the document which formally ended the Revolution and granted the United States independence from Great Britain. In a real sense, the United States formally became a nation on September 3, 1783." (Source: http://www.internationalcopsforchrist.com/proof-that-america-was-founded-as-a-christian-nation/)
"When the United States became a nation, it was done in the "name of the most holy and undivided Trinity." The preamble to this Treat states it is based upon the "Holy and undivided Trinity." The concept of the holy Trinity is unique to Christianity. This statement means the United States was founded on the Christian faith. The complete Preamble follows:"
"In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity" (Source: http://www.internationalcopsforchrist.com/proof-that-america-was-founded-as-a-christian-nation/)