As cited from http://positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/qframe.htm
"The founders of our nation were nearly all Infidels, and that of the presidents who had thus far been elected [Washington; Adams; Jefferson; Madison; Monroe; Adams; Jackson] not a one had professed a belief in Christianity...."
-- The Reverend Doctor Bird Wilson, an Episcopal minister in Albany, New York, in a sermon preached in October, 1831. One might expect a modern defender of the Evangelical to play with the meaning of "Christianity," making it refer only to a specific brand of orthodoxy, first sentence quoted in John E Remsberg, "Six Historic Americans," second sentence quoted in Paul F Boller, George Washington & Religion, pp. 14-15
2006-12-29 05:43:21 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, they were Christian. In fact that was a strongly recommended prerequisite in the early American government. Why do you think we are still among the greatest countries today?
http://www.handlethetruth.net
2006-12-29 05:47:00 · answer #1 · answered by truthhandl3r 3 · 2⤊ 6⤋
Few of the founding fathers were what modern evangelicals would consider orthodox Christians, but that's not to say that they didn't have great respect for Christianity.
Thomas Jefferson, for example, called himself a Christian, though he disliked Christian dogma, considered the Trinity nonsense, denied that Jesus was divine, and was certain that the followers of Jesus had thoroughly mucked up the story of his life for their own motives. He admired Jesus the man and considered his moral example, freed of superstition, to be worthy of emulation.
I prefer to say that most of the founders were men of faith and leave it at that. The important thing is that few, if any, of them ever advocated religion being imposed upon anyone. To them, one's faith or moral philosophy was a personal matter between the individual and his God or conscience.
Humanist
2006-12-29 05:51:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm not American but yes I did know that your Founding Fathers weren't Christian, they were Deists. :) I had American History classes in college.
2006-12-29 05:55:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you are correct in your assertation that it depends on what you mean by infidel. Most early settlers were nonconformists, which is why they left the UK.
2006-12-29 05:46:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I thought all Christians were infidels according to Islam. So aren't all infidels Christian?
2006-12-29 05:47:40 · answer #5 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes I did know that...and it is one of the few things in our history that I can be proud of. Thanx for bringing it to the surface again.
2006-12-29 05:47:37 · answer #6 · answered by Bomb Diggity 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What is YOUR nation? Iran? Apparently, you are easily mislead. Why then did they import over 5,000 Bibles from Scotland during the Revolutionary War? Proverbs 9:10 YBIC
2006-12-29 05:47:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
Someone stated this earlier today. Maybe it was you.
2006-12-29 05:48:31 · answer #8 · answered by Cristina 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes we do, it has been brought up on numerous occasions here on R&S. Still doesnt change anything...
2006-12-29 05:46:00 · answer #9 · answered by K 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I did know that.
2006-12-29 06:50:16 · answer #10 · answered by Laura 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋