This is a question in which I take no delight in pursuing,and one that Facebook will not allow me to answer in the manner that is appropriately formatted;they only allow so many words for me to post.I shall give a simple abridgment of an article I wrote several years ago.This seems to be a “hot”topic among folks.(A lot of research has gone into this matter for each Founder,and it poses absurd difficulties in their personal objectives;however,I feel with a certain degree of confidence,I can compose a satisfactory response.)
The first statement to remember is this: Contrary to popular opinion(in my view),separation of church and state is NOT in the Constitution!What it does say is “Congress shall make no law respecting an ESTABLISHMENT of religion or prohibiting the FREE exercise thereof.”In other words,there is no “state sanctioned” religion;no one is permitted to force you to believe in anything;that is,FREEDOM of religion,not FREEDOM from religion!(There is a difference!)
What is a deist? In most of the superficial dictionaries and encyclopedias in current use explain it like using this definition:Well,actually,the terms deist,atheist,and agnostic appear as synonyms,lol!Maybe a God who is far away,not intervening in human affairs,but is out there.Maybe there is an actual God;however,his existence cannot be proven.Or,maybe a God who created the universe and the world...and left it up to us to do as we see fit.
Let’s start with John Jay,the 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court(the architect of our legal system;it amazes me how many people actually do not know he was a Founder!),who was a devout member of the Anglican Church. “In forming and settling my belief relative to the doctrines of Christianity,I adopted no articles from creeds but such only as,on careful examination,I found to be confirmed by the Bible.”Does this sound like something a DEVOUT deist or agnostic would say?Furthermore,John Jay was (like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams)an ardent student of William Blackstone,the most influential figure in our legal system,who was also a Christian.(His “Commentaries on the Laws of England” played a major role in the infancy of the American legal system.Blackstone viewed the study of law as a type of Christian service.{Regent University Law Review,Vol.13,pgs 169-170.}
Thomas Jefferson: “I am a real Christian,that is to say,a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.”While many books and articles explore this claim,it is candid that Jefferson refers to himself as a Christian and NOT a Deist.Of of the hundreds of letters I have personally researched myself(he wrote over 20,000!),Jefferson never gives me the inclination that he is a deist;albeit,his is famously known for his “Jefferson Bible”,in which he allegedly “alters” and “omits”the sayings and miracles attributed to Jesus.This,I must tell you,is Jefferson’s “theological” differences with the divinity of Jesus!WE ALL HAVE THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES WITH OUR SAVIOR! Lutherans,Baptists,Born Again Evangelicals,Roman Catholics,Mormons,Eastern OrthodoxMuslims,Hindus,Buddhists,etc,all fall into this category.That is another matter altogether.It does not permit any historian to put Jefferson in a atheistic or agnostic death camp,does it? Jefferson further explains,”The practice of morality,being necessary for the well being of society,He{God}has taken care to impress its precepts so indelibly on our hearts that they shall not be effaced by the subtleties of our brain.We all agree in the obligation of the moral principles of Jesus and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in HIS discourses.” The question is this:Are you still a Christian if you disagree with aspects of Christianity? Thomas Jefferson(as well as the rest of the Founders)certainly thought so! In the New Testament,Peter and Paul had quite “considerable”differences with who Jesus was,didn't they?Paul developed an ENTIRE theology on his perceptions of Jesus that are still in use today.Does this mean that one of them was not a believer in Christ?Certainly not!(You see where I’m going with this???) (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.)
George Washington: Washington was an open promoter of Christianity.In his speech on May 12,1779,he opined that what children needed to learn was the religion of Jesus Christ,and to learn this would make them”happier and greater than they already are.” He also says that “To the distinguished character of patriot,it should be our HIGHEST glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian”;and when he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army on June 8th,1783,he reminded the new nation that “without a humble imitation”we “can never hope to be a happy nation.” “While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers,we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion.”There are countless references in the correspondence of his friends of Washington in daily attendance of church services;however,like his close friend,Thomas Jefferson,he was plagued with theological opinions and duties of sacrament.Again,not qualifying him to be in possession of deistic influence. (George Washington, The Writings of Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932), Vol. XI, pp. 342-343, General Orders of May 2, 1778. In my view,the best “recent” biography of Washington is Washington:A Life by Ron Chernow,published by Penguin Books,2011.It won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2011.)
John Adams: “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. The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.I will avow that I then believed,and now believe,that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God. Our Constitution was made only for a MORAL and RELIGIOUS people.It is wholly inadequate to the Government of any other.” (Remember,Adams was a Congregationalist,you know what that is,don’t you? You should!) ( John Adams, Works, Vol. III, p. 421, diary entry for July 26, 1796. Yes,I still use ancient and authentic sources;I have no reason to assume that the quotes have changed For a comprehensive and theatrical biography,I suggest John Adams by David McCullough,published by Simon&Schuster,2002.)
Alexander Hamilton: He was certainly no Deist! Along with the Rev.James Bayard,he formed the “Christian Constitutional Society”(something NOT mentioned in high school history textbooks!)to help spread over the WORLD the two things which Hamilton was convinced that made America flawless:(1)Christianity,and(2)a Constitution formed under Christianity!Hamilton’s death in a duel thwarted his plan to commence a ministry to promote the welfare of Christian government(didn’t know that,did you?).(John M. Mason, A Collection of the Facts and Documents Relative to the Death of Major General Alexander Hamilton (New York: Hopkins and Seymour, 1804), pp. 48-50. Also worth checking out is Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow,published by Penguin Books,2005.)
Benjamin Franklin: In his plan of “Education in Public Schools in Pennsylvania”,Franklin insisted that schools teach “the necessity of a “public” religion...and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others,ancient or modern.” (What has happened to this???) It was Franklin who proposed the Biblical inscription for the Seal of the United States,even though the seal itself was designed by William Barton and Charles Thomson.He also put forth the idea of a paid chaplain in Congress.”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,the best the world ever saw or is likely to see.” (Benjamin Franklin, Works of Benjamin Franklin, John Bigelow, editor (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904), p. 185, to Ezra Stiles, March 9, 1790. I HIGHLY recommend Walter Isaacson,Benjamin Frankin:An American Life,Simon&Schuster,2004.This work is an extraordinary transformation of the Franklin we view currently.)
James Madison:Madison was trained for the ministry under the guidance of Rev.Dr.John Witherspoon;his (Madison)writings are replete with the declaration of his faith in God and Christ.Madison was deeply ignited with the idea that members of public service should be “fervent advocates in the cause of Christ.”Here is a quote by Madison that is grossly misquoted by revisionist historians: “What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not.” [Pres. James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance, addressed to the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1785]Madison did,in fact,hold an incredulous view on “ecclesiastical establishments”;that is,he was deeply suspicious of them in intervening on one's personal faith,as well as establishing a person’s faith.Although Madison did suggest the contention for a “wall” between church and state,modern as well as the revisionist historian demonstrate insalubrious connotations of its pretext.Madison held a confident conviction that the “wall”was to prevent Congress from passing a NATIONAL law to establish a NATIONAL religion!(There is an awesome web-site that I use for the papers and correspondence of James Madison that I wish to share. It is http://www.constitution.org/jm/jm.htm
Samuel Adams:(Yes,he was also a Founding Father!) “I rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins. The name of the Lord(says the scripture)is a strong tower;thither the righteous flee and are safe{Proverbs 18:10}.Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better.” (Letters of Delegates to Congress: August 16, 1776-December 31, 1776, Paul H. Smith, editor (Washington DC: Library of Congress, 1979), Vol. 5, pp. 669-670, Samuel Adams to Elizabeth Adams on December 26, 1776.
Another charismatic work is Samuel Adams:Father of the American Revolution by Mark Puls,published by Paulgrave Macmillan,2009.)
John Hancock:(Yes,he is considered a Founding Father;his presence was crucial in the strategic as well as the financial development of the American Revolution.Along with Robert Morris,{from which Robert Morris University in Moon Township,Pa is named after},another Founding Father,they were the two richest gentlemen in Colonial America, and certainly possessed the means to support(financially)a war.You didn't know that?) Hancock's father was a Presbyterian minister and was,therefore,well versed in Scripture. “Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state,I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement...that all nations may bow to the sceptre of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that the whole earth may be filled his glory.” (John Hancock, A Proclamation For a Day of Public Thanksgiving 1791, given as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Also review “The Summer of 1787:The Men Who Invented the Constitution(The Simon and Schuster America Collection)” by David O. Stewart,published by Simon and Schuster,2008.)
With all of this said,it it paramount that I NOT be understood as asserting,demonstrating,or suggesting that Christianity is the official religion of the United States;on the contrary,no OFFICIAL religion exists!However,it is the architect of Judeo_Christian principles that govern,guide,influence,and has evolutionized our democracy;I cannot think of a single nation,with the exception of the United States,where this has been exemplified as well as it has these past two centuries than that of this singular nation we call America! The Founders recognized all too well the failures of the churches of England of telling people how to worship and administer their faith under authority! John Milton,the greatest of the English poets, zealously attempted to abolish what the English churches had in place at the time! In his infamous essay “Aeropagitica”(a speech of the freedom of speech that is,perhaps,the greatest written in the English language),Milton called for the “liberty to know to utter,and to argue freely according to conscience,above all liberties.”This applied,however,to only the conflicting Protestant sects,and not to atheists,Jews,Muslims or Catholics;that is,Milton favored for disestablishment as the only effective way for achieving “broad”toleration of religious diversity.However,rather than a “forced”contention on a man's conscience or reason,the Government should use “persuaded force”of the Gospel. (There is the difference the Founders recognized! Not to discredit Milton in any way,he was just a passionate Puritan! We all know what happens in this case...they came to America!)
You are possessed with the FREEDOM of choice;the Founders,ALL of them,despite their differences in practice of faith,theology or worship rituals(which we ALL have),could not comprehend or tolerate an “established” religion in the New Republic.That said,I do not believe that they were “Bible Thumping”Christians;however,to categorize them as deists,atheist or agnostic, is a GROSS injustice and vehemently undermines their principles of character and conduct.I shall not take their religious invocations and decide to play them as a requiem,when they should be recited as an encomium.
In closing this post,my examples and quotes and sources are to the benefit of the construction of my own paradigm,but I do not claim them to be authoritative.Liberty is an instrument over which a series of internal and external impressions are driven;as a result,this greatly magnifies its drama and intensity.Like virtue,liberty is the propinquity which pours forth from the cascade of reason,from which we all drink of its source.As an astute observer of the architects of our Democracy,their recurrent observations in the above article are pulsatingly regulated by their intense but sophisticated minds.It is my opinion that I see no viable reason to conclude that they pursued or engrafted any episode of atheism or deisim.On the contrary,my examples are replete of the opposite.That said,should it be your will(or Liberty),you can agree to disagree.Do your own research and careful thinking.All versions,whether complanate or distend,exist to appease your satisfaction of our Founders.
