We can argue all day about the fact that the founding fathers like George Washington were evangelical Christians. Instead of judging their hearts, we are on safer ground, examining what actually gave us.
Nevertheless, we will continue and indulge a favorite pastime Protestant. That is, a debate on whether Washington was a Christian. The acquisition of the "pro" is that if we can prove that the founders were Christians, evidenced by the fact that the United StatesConstitution is Christian. The side "with" responded that the Constitution a Christian document, and Christians better to admit it.
Most Christians are convinced that Washington is a true blue, born again, evangelical Christian. Others have their doubts.
Washington's arguments against Christianity
An important question is why George Washington is refusing to take the community for most of his adult. For the serious Christian, such as the refusal to make aAct of self-excommunication.
to take 200 years from now, some would-be historian of religious quotes from Barack Obama to show that he was a Christian. Christians today do the same with Washington, but the references to the Lord Jesus Christ in his vast collection of public and private securities are surprisingly poor?
More importantly, they must take into account for the defenders, because George Washington Lodge occupied the rank of Grand Master of Freemasonry in any promotion ofRequires an anti-Christian Masonic Lodge under oath?
When it is folded religious / philosophical in Washington, we talk too much of a mythical being, to something other primary source documents. These include such things as public and private correspondence and writings of Washington who knew him well, as his pastor.
Washington and Pietist
In the mid-20th century brought the conservative Professor Paul Boller, a comprehensive study of WashingtonPublic and private records, along with the statements of contemporaries. His book was entitled George Washington and Religion.
pietistic Washington biographers popular encyclopedia of stories about his religion and hearsay evidence poor, who could never stand up in court is based. Very different was the story that emerges from the study of Boller source documents.
The stories are strict Pietist devotional life and his partiality Washingtonfor the host communities in their respective denomination. In a report that George Washington took his gun and fired on a boy who interrupted his prayer. Each read out there was more religious in the statements of Washington as a fact.
Pastor of Washington
The people who were near Washington knew better. Dr. James Abercrombie, his priest at Christ Church in Philadelphia during his presidency, Washington was skeptical of Christianity.
While his wifealways went forward to kneel at the Communion on Sunday, George Washington went through the back door. When taken to task publicly, has promised not to visit the church in communion Sunday.
Dr. Abercrombie has given us these words: "Washington was a professing Christian, is evident from his regular presence in our church, but, Lord, I can not believe that every person a real Christian who uniformly disregards an order so solemnly to offer the Divine Author of our holy religion, and howas a channel of divine grace. "
But, as mentioned above, the analysis of the personal faith of those who are a bit 'risky. We are on safer ground with a careful examination of what the founders actually gave us. Its fundamental flaw was a failure to distinguish between the biblical covenant model and the human-centered social contract.
religiosity of Washington
George Washington clearly appreciate Christianity as a socially cohesive force, but he viewed it as a servant, not theMaster of the government. He often spoke of God's sovereignty, but his God was the Masonic Great Architect of the Universe.
He strongly encouraged the chaplains were in the Continental Army, but all its senior Masons. He also served as a leader in his local church, but only visited about once a month. Church's presence was part of his Masonic duty and a means to express his humanity.
Evangelicals are quick to point out that the founder does not "deist."Rather, they were Unitarians. While most were members of the Church, men like Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison and Washington, Christ has seen from a unitary perspective. That is, Jesus was not God and certainly not relevant to the affairs of civil government.
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