Faith of Abraham Lincoln

By Mo (VA)

Lincoln is big these days. Looks like a truly interesting book about the generally overlooked topic of the faith of Abraham Lincoln. This, written by a conservative evangelical (by the way) -- but appears fair.

In it, we find that Lincoln knew his bible well, very, very well. But, he never joined a church because he could not:

"Without mental reservations, assent to long and complicated creeds and ... catechisms. If the church would ask simply for assent to the Savior's statement of the substance of the law: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself,' that church would I gladly unite with."

He never found such a church and (I think) would not even today.

We also find that 13 of the 16 ministers in Lincoln's home town opposed him and voted against him in the Presidential election of 1860.

That Lincoln's most vociferous opponents were pro-slavery ministers -- many of whom charged Lincoln with heresy.

That the majority of Christian churches in Lincoln's day supported the institution of slavery -- the abolitionists (those that were religious at all) were mostly a fringe, radical group at the time.

In summary, it seems the conclusion of this author is that Lincoln either was not a Christian (since he refused to accept some basic theological tenets) or "we can conclude that he was, in the broadest possible sense, a theologically liberal Christian."

I think if one studies up on the faith of Washington and Jefferson (especially Jefferson) they will find very similar wrestlings with faith, very similar relationships with organized religion, and similar religious beliefs.

Fascinating stuff, especially given the power organized religion has had over our politics historically.

See more at http://lincolnsbattlewithgod.com/