Why do Christians think many of our founding fathers were born-again Christians?

Question

It's sickening how people twist history to their own agenda. I mean yes, some were Christian, but many others like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington...all deists and agnostics.

Yeah, the little guys were.

Answer 1

I don't recall them being born-again the way it is currently defined, but the majority of them were men of great faith. This is a fact of American history that is not taught in public schools because of THEOPHOBIA.

Go and read many of their writings and be educated for yourself. Your ignorance when it comes to the history of the country you call your home is appalling.

I have read excerpts from George Washington's diary and was astounded by the piety of his words. Even the people who were a witness to his life remarked on his great faith.

This article contains excerpts from George Washington's diary:

George Washington's diary entry of May 13, 1770 reads: "Went to Church with all the Compy. Here. Dind at Belvoir and returned in the Afternn." Pohick, the parish church of Mount Vernon, was completed in 1774. It stands as a living testimony to Washington, who was a reghular attendant. The original edifice, with Washington's pew (no. 28) nearest the communion rail, is still in continuous use. The first President was on the building committee of his church with George Mason of Gunston Hall.

Truro Parish, of which Pohick is the principal church, was formed in 1732. Augustine Washington, father of George, was a member of its vestry during his period of residence at Little Hunting Creek, (later named Mount Vernon, after Admiral Vernon, by Lawrence Washington). Washington was a vestryman of Truro Parish from 1762 until 1784. The vestries of these colonial parishes shared responsibility for "the maintenance of religion and all things pertaining thereto in the domain of charity and morals." >From time to time, Washington was an "overseer of the poor" for the parish and county.

George Washington attended church regularly throughout his life, while at home and during his long absences. He attended Pohick Church most frequently, although he also purchased a pew at Christ Church, Alexandria, built in 1773.

General Washington's career and writings manifest a deep and abiding faith; Christianity was a guiding influence in his life, public and private. This influence is displayed in the closing sentence of his valedictory letter to the governors of the states, written as he prepared to relinquish command of the Continental Army:

"I now make it my earnest prayer, that 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 most graciously be 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 characteristicks 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."




GEORGE WASHINGTON

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen, he was second to none in the
humble and endearing scenes of private life.
- Henry Lee, December 26, 1799

ADDITIONAL:

As with all of your ilk you unfortunately would not acknowledge the truth about anything if it disagrees with your perversions of history and thought. That is a tragic flaw that leads to ignorance and ultimately leads to what you have become today, you and your ilk are truly a sad and pathetic lot. I genuinely and deeply pity you all.

Answer 2

*Gasp* next you'll be saying that George Washington didn't chop down the cherry tree!! (Actually, that was a satire cartoon in his local newspaper). I think with a lot of history, they just grab whatever they can and throw it all together, filling in any gaps with anything that will support their veiw. These are the same people who are totally against Freemasonry, saying it's a false religion, etc... Yet, these "Christian" Founding Fathers were Freemasons. And, lately, I've been hearing some say they were all for Democracy, yet when I read up on it... they didn't like the idea of a Democracy. I think Jefferson said, it gave too much power to the people and would result in Anarchy. (I wonder if I can get arrested for stating that?)

Answer 3

Christians continue to say that our founding fathers were Christian because it backs up their argument that there is no or should be no separation of church and state. If our founding fathers were Christian, then we have no right to demand they stop pushing their religion on the rest of the country.

What's so interesting is the quotes that Christians twist from Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to back up their claims of rampant Christianity among the founding fathers when non-believers can find just as many that more accurately present a non-Christian viewpoint from those same men.

I submit below two quotes from Thomas Jefferson, an undisputed founding father, which illustrate how he felt about Christianity and the bible.

Answer 4

the optimum distinction right here is Jesus - in the Jewish faith a Messiah is a factor and parcel of the perception, coming right down to earth on the tip of days to strengthen the ineffective, yet, it is not Jesus Christ who's a non-entity in Judaism (in spite of the certainty the he exchange into Jewish). Jews stick to the old testomony and the Talmud and Mishna. Messianic Jews enroll in a superb form of the innovations of the Jewish faith with the addition of a few commentaries on Christian scripture (ask your brother) and maximum critically, carry that Jesus Christ (Yoshua) is the Messiah and savior. And Christians stick to the old and new testaments and carry that Jesus is the Messiah and savior. bypass to Wikipedia for the finer info. Messianic Jews evaluate themselves Jews, Jews specifically do not agree that they are.

Answer 5

I tried to make that point in class once, but everyone was infuriated, saying that the US was made on a Christian base, even though it says the complete opposite in the Treaty of Tripoli.

"Mainstream history is a lie that people agree to believe in."

-My history professor from last semester

Answer 6

These men founded our nation as a Christian nation. History provides perhaps the best evidence to demonstrate our founders’ true faith, and their intentions regarding separation of church and state. The first national government of the U.S., the Continental-Confederation Congress (1774 to 1789), appointed chaplains for the armed forces, provided they were “regularly ordained ministers of some Christian denomination.” General Stonewall Jackson said, “I would like to see no questions asked in the army as to what denomination a chaplain belongs; but let the question be, Does he preach the Gospel?” The First Congress also provided Christian chaplains for itself to, among other duties, offer prayers at the beginning of legislative sessions. Congress even approved the use of the Capitol building as a church building, as well as sponsored the publication of a Bible. In addition, they granted public lands for the purpose of “promoting Christianity” among the Indians. In fact, on June 12, 1779, President Washington stated to the Delaware Indian Chiefs, “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ…Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.”

Also, Benjamin Franklin said before the Constitutional Convention in 1787: “We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”

Furthermore, at the time of our founders, the U.S. Supreme Court declared in the case of Runkel v. Winemiller (1799), “By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed on the same equal footing.”

I could add many additional references, but hopefully these should suffice.

Answer 7

Oh, yes, some were Christian.... In other words,, your rant is bogus.

Answer 8

Yes, it is annoying. But these are people who will believe anything they are told.