Were the Founding Fathers of the USA Christian?

Question

The primary leaders of the founding fathers of the USA were not Bible-believing Christians; they were deists including:

George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
Thomas Paine
Ethan Allen
James Monroe

Thomas Jefferson believed Jesus was an inspired moral teacher, but not divine. He called the Trinity: “Incomprehensible jargon” and “metaphysical insanity.”

Benjamin Franklin wasn’t sure if Jesus was God or not, but said he didn’t plan to spend time worrying about it.

Thomas Paine called Christianity: “a fable, which, for absurdity and extravagance is not exceeded by anything that is to be found in the mythology of the ancients.”

so um...when Christians manufacture lies to make themselves look better, how is it possible to enter heaven?

Answer 1

It is so sad that many americans are misled by their preachers to the point that they sacrifice the great religious freedoms our founders gave us. our founders gave us the chance to be adults, but many of us wish to be children.

Most interesting among our founders, JOhn ADams actually stated that religion is for the little people, not the superior minded people like him and Jefferson.

Answer 2

Are you asking a question? Or is this a soapbox?

Perhaps this is your question: "so um...when Christians manufacture lies to make themselves look better, how is it possible to enter heaven?"

Which Christians are manufacturing lies? Do you mean Xtians shouldn't say that the founding fathers of the US were Xtian too? If so, what does that have to do with entering heaven?

You sound like you're really upset about something but before offering you some comfort, I just need to know what the question means...

Answer 3

Your statement is far to general.
As a Christian I have never believed that the so called founding fathers were Christians. Their actions were contrary to the teachings of the Bible, by saying this I mean such things as when they wrote:
"we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men were created equal"

They were slave owners and they treated there slaves just like everyone else did. There is much that can be said on this topic but it is far too lengthy of a discussion.

Answer 4

They were into Masonry and by accident it might have been a good thing. The Masons are pretty simple about religion. They know that God is the architect of all things and they pretty much came up with freedom to worship in this country. Kind of like having a universalist theory that actually works.

Answer 5

Other than Thomas Paine, who was very outspokenly anti-Christian, all of these guys (and others) made remarks in favor of Christianity.

"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this - that it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." - John Quincy Adams

"The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty. A student's perusal of the sacred volume will make him a better citizen, a better father, a better husband." - Thomas Jefferson

"The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests." - Andrew Jackson

"In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed." - Noah Webster

"We have staked the future of American civilization upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." - James Madison

"He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of Christianity will change the face of the world." - Benjamin Franklin

"It can not be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Patrick Henry

"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles...to this we owe our free constitutions of government." - Noah Webster

"Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?" - Thomas Jefferson

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor." - George Washington

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited.... What a utopia, what a paradise would this region be." - John Adams

"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams

So, you know these guys personally, then, to know something as intimate as their faith? I mean, how old are you, anyhow?

This old chestnut has been roasted already.....

Answer 6

If you do some more research, you will find out that most of these men believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior from sin. That would make them Christians not deists.

Answer 7

The founding fathers had a hefty dose of Christianity and deists would not refer to Jesus as Lord, his resurection, declare days of prayer and have missions to indians by public funding as they did

There was a minority of emlightenment influence, but most of the founding fathers would be more in the direction of theistic Chrisitans than you claim

Answer 8

Depends on your definition of "founding fathers" and "Christian".

Obviously, none of the founders of America were the equivalent of modern day Evangelical Christians. But to imply that the Christian religion had no influence, as you do, is also "manufacturing lies". So should we believe you?

Some excerpts from an article by The Honorable Judge Robert Ulrich, Chief Justice, Missouri Court Of Appeals, Western District

..........................................................

Patrick Henry, the great orator who said on the floor of the House of Burgesses in Virginia, "Give me liberty or give me death" also said,

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

John Adams of Massachusetts, a lawyer and the second president, wrote in a letter to Jefferson on June 28, 1813. He said, "The general principles on which the Fathers achieved independence, were . . . the general principles of Christianity."

Samuel Adams, cousin of John Adams, is called the "Father of the American Revolution." He incited the Boston Tea Party, signed the Declaration of Independence and called for the first Continental Congress. He said as the Declaration of Independence was being signed, "We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come." Samuel Adams also said, "First of all, I ... rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins."

Thomas Jefferson...said, "The reason that
Christianity is the best friend of government
is because Christianity is the only religion
that changes the heart."

Benjamin Franklin, considered a deist by many, said, "He who shall introduce into the public affairs the principles of a primitive Christianity, will change the face of the world." And Thomas Jefferson, also considered a deist, said, "The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." Jefferson is even quoted as having said, "I am a Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."

George Washington, the father of our nation said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." Can you imagine the stress on this man the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania? He knew overwhelming British forces awaited him in the spring. The entire future of the fledgling nation was on his shoulders. If he were defeated, the new nation would no longer exist. He and the signers of the Declaration of Independence would probably be hanged, and his soldiers were dying at the rate of twelve per day. Many didn't have blankets or shoes.

Isaac Potts, who was Washington's temporary landlord at Valley Forge the winter of 1777-78, gave a famous account of Washington's resolution. As Potts was traveling the dark forest, he heard some distance from him a voice that became more intense as he approached its origin.
Washington was praying for the new nation,
for guidance, and for the men under his
command.

As Potts approached, he saw the Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United Colonies on his knees in prayer to the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. Washington was praying for the new nation, for guidance, and for the men under his command. Potts, a Quaker, returned to his home and his wife where he declared, "I have seen this day what I shall never forget. Till now I have thought that a Christian and a soldier were incompatible; but if George Washington be not a man of God, I am mistaken, and still more shall I be disappointed if God does not through him perform some great thing for his country."

When Washington was inaugurated the first President of the United States in New York in 1789, a public prayer meeting was conducted to commit the new nation to the "blessings of the Creator." Later the same year, on October 3, 1789, President Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation. The document begins,

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor ... Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -...

James Madison, the fourth president and the Father of the Constitution said,

The future and success of America is not in this Constitution but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded.

John Jay was the first Chief Justice of he Supreme Court. He said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

Fifty-three of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence were reportedly Christians. I have already referred to statements made by some. These are the statements of three less well-known signers. There are many more.

Answer 9

nice propaganda trip you've got going here. I've studied this and know better.

Peter Marshall and David Manual wrote a good book called "The Light and the Glory," read that for one differing viewpoint on the subject.

Answer 10

Actually most if not all were either Unitarian or Universalist in their belief systems. Check out WWW.UUA.ORG for more information. PEACE!