Posted on: November 17th, 2011 Christian Nation? The Founders on Religion
I highly recommend James Hutson’s book of quotations, The Founders on Religion.
Reading it I realized (or rather, was reminded) that, of the six most influential founders of the US (John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington), two were Unitarians (Adams and Jefferson), and one was a deist (James Madison), one was an all-out nonbeliever / non churchgoer (Franklin).
That leaves only two of the six as remotely resembling the historic Christian faith. (Note: of these six, four were Episcopalian!)
Is it any wonder that the landscape of American Christianity (to say nothing of the Episcopal Church!) today is so muddled? The more things change….
5 Responses to “Christian Nation? The Founders on Religion”
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Rebecca Daugharty Says:
November 17th, 2011 at 4:28 pmSo only 2 were Christian but 4 were Episcopalian? Muddled indeed.
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Rebecca Daugharty Says:
November 17th, 2011 at 4:30 pmAnd WHOA! I love the Carlos Fuentes quote!!
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matt Says:
November 19th, 2011 at 2:14 pmBeck,
Keep in mind that Anglicans worldwide are not (and never have been) quite so “muddled!”
Which tells me that any problems the Episcopal Church might have are more American than Anglican.
Love you!
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Jonathan Says:
January 27th, 2012 at 10:14 pm“Lambeth or convocation will publish a prayer saying something like, “Guide us O Lord, to the solution of our social problems”; and the great organ of old will groan in the background… “All who are desolate and oppressed.” The first Anglicans asked for peace and happiness, truth and justice; but nothing can stop the latest Anglicans, and many others, from the horrid habit of asking for improvement in international relations.” G.K. Chesterton
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religiocity » Blog Archive » Supreme Ct. on Gay Marriage: First Response Says:
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