Faith of our Founding Fathers
Around Christmas time, as regular as clockwork, articles appear in the media stating that America was not founded upon Christian principles. The writers of these articles always claim that some of our Founding Fathers were Deists who did not believe that God intervenes in human affairs.
Deists were what we would describe today as Agnostics. They believed in a God of Creation, but thought Him impersonal as to His creation. Most Christians believe that God gave mankind Free Will to either serve or reject Him. No one claims that all our Founding Fathers were Christians, but many of them were. So what does it matter if a few were not? I’ve never heard that any of them were Athiests. (Not believing in God)
Agnostic writers claim that Benjamin Franklin was a Deist, but Franklin’s own words contradict that.
Benjamin Franklin stated, “I have lived long, sir, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? 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 …” (At the Constitutional Convention of 1787)
Thomas Jefferson said “My views … are the results 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 percepts of Jesus himself. 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.”
George Washington was a dedicated believer in Christ. Some of his quotes follow;
(From George Washington’s farewell speech in 1796)
“Bless, oh Lord, the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and thy Son, Jesus Christ.”
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
“Of all the habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports … Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principal.”
John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, stated, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.”
Alexander Hamilton, a signer of the Constitution: “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am a sinner. I look to him for mercy.”
The Northwest Ordinance, July 13, 1787, An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio.
Art. 3. “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
Non-Christians claim that the First Amendment was to protect the government from religion. That may have been a small part of their reasoning, as some colonies would not grant voting rights to those who were not members of a certain church. But mostly, it was to protect religion from totalitarian government. The Pilgrims and many others fled Europe in pursuit of religious freedom.
The so-called “Separation of Church and States” is not defined in the Constitution. The First Amendment was primarily meant as a non-intervention doctrine to keep government from interfering in religion. The government was to be neutral about religious beliefs. Today, however, the Courts have become mostly opponents of religion — especially Christianity.
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Ed Torrence is a Coeur d’Alene resident.