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I'm trying to think of the name of the deist founder who told a fellow deist, after Washington's death, that he was 'one of us'. I'll look it up.

I liked GW's niece's response, which was, in effect, 'don't be silly!' I just don't think there's any real evidence he was a deist.

Quote from: marc on Wed Jul 13, 2011 - 20:41:31

I'm trying to think of the name of the deist founder who told a fellow deist, after Washington's death, that he was 'one of us'. I'll look it up.

I liked GW's niece's response, which was, in effect, 'don't be silly!' I just don't think there's any real evidence he was a deist.

   George Washington wrote a prayer at the age of 20, it was printed in "Our Daily Bread" devotional booklet February. 1959.

   Almighty God, and most merciful Father ... since Thou art a God of pure eyes, and wilt be sanctified in all who draw unto Thee, who dost not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in Thy courts, pardon, I beseech Thee, my sins; remove them from Thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept me for the merits of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; that when I come into Thy temple and compass Thine altar, my prayer may come before Thee as incense; and as Thou wouldst hear me calling upon Thee in my prayers and give me grace to hear Thee calling on me in Thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation, and peace to the saving of my soul and the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, gracious God, the good work which Thou hast sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends, and country; be our God and our Guide this day and forever, for His sake who lay down in the grave and rose again for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Not to take this too far off topic, but Washington kept a prayer journal during his younger days. The speculation that he became a deist came about in part because his public religious language became more generic as he grew older, and although he mentioned God quite a bit, he rarely if ever mentioned Jesus. Also, toward the end of his life he attended church regularly but habitually left before communion. Washington's latest biographer, Ron Chernow, says that he was 'probably' a deist.

I'm still not convinced. His family--the people who lived with him--considered him a Christian. The lack of specific Christian references, I believe, reflected enlightenment language as well as his recognition that he was so revered that his words and actions were taken by many as being official. His publicly embracing Christianity during his presidency could have led to an official status for Christianity as a state religion.

That's just my opinion. It's difficult to not get to the point where what you want to believe about history becomes what you believe. That's the road so many of the revisionists the right are embracing are taking. One even cites Parson Weems, the infamous inventor of the cherry tree story, as a source that Washington was a devout Christian. Weems flat-out made up his moralistic tales. 

Quote from: Jaime on Tue Jul 12, 2011 - 13:02:33
Yes, they key word is "some" or more specifically "a few". In particular Franklin and Jefferson.

http://freemencapitalist.com/founding-fathers/founding-fathers-religion/

QuoteThere were some that were considered Deists, which is nothing like the atheists of today, Ben Franklin who was considered a Deist said the following:

"God governs in the affairs of man. 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 in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel