Were the Founding Fathers Deist, Secularist, or Christian?

Posted March 3rd, 2008 by Jenn Sierra

(Updated and Revised from a previous article, most recently published June 15, 2007)

Those who wish to promote the secularization of the United States often point to the writings of a few Founding Fathers in order to assert that the Founders were primarily Deists, rather than Christian, and that their original intent was to establish a secular nation. Certainly, there is evidence to suggest that some highly respected intellectuals and politicians of the day, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin may have, at least at some points during their lives, been more Deistic than Biblical in their thinking.

Deists believe in the existence of God. However, the Deist belief system generally views God as the Creator of the Universe, and not much more. (See Deism.)

A Deist would not see God as being involved in the outcome of a war, the election of government official, the establishment of a law, or the rise and fall of nation, and in this respect, Deism is contradictory to Christian beliefs, and more in line with secular humanism. The Puritans were a predominant influence in early colonial life, and came to the new world specifically to move away from the secularization of the Church of England, and the intolerance of the leaders of the Church of England towards any alternative views. In their Mayflower Compact, they wrote:

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten…by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith…Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith… (See the Mayflower Compact.)

The population of the colonies during the American Revolution, however, was over 99% Christian, and the Founding Fathers were elected by this general population to represent them at the government level. As representatives of the people, politicians, including professed, closet, or experimental “Deists,” respectfully worked within the general mindset of the people they represented.The vast majority of the colonists and the Founding Fathers were Christian, and saw the successful Revolution and formation of the United States as a blessing from God, and God as being very active in their personal, religious, and political lives. Just one example is the establishment of the first Thanksgiving:

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of; And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence, but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defence and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a Measure to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops and to crown our Arms with most signal success…(See the establishment of the first Thanksgiving.)

This type of language and line of reasoning directly counteracts Deistic as well as secularist thinking. So in spite of the important involvement of a few Deists in the Founding of the United States, it was Christianity, not Deism or secularism, which represented the thinking of the typical colonist, and the majority of their representatives in congress.

Note: For additional study on this subject, I recommend the online resources posted by David Barton’s WallBuilders, and a Tutorial explaining Founding Fathers quotes that seem to show they weren’t Christian created by Thomas and Misha Eades.

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Tagged and categorized as: News and Opinion , Comments (5)

5 Responses to “Were the Founding Fathers Deist, Secularist, or Christian?”

  1. Stix
    March 3rd, 2008 - 3:25 pm

    It is true thatmost ofthe Founding Fathers were Christian and were not Deists. But the writing ofthe Costu=itution and also Bill of Rights wasmore in line with the Deists beliefs. At the beginning of the United States each State had thier own Official Church, but to form a union they needed to getridofthat. So they wrote closer t theDeists beliefs because it would not seem like the Union was another form of Church Heirarchy.

    At the beginning it was illegal to be a Catholic in all the States, even Maryland that was founded by Catholics. But with the Constitution thy wanted to get rid of the practice of the State Church. That is what the whole argumentover Church and States we have now is.

    And did you know that the original Public Schools taught Protestant teachings. That is the reason we have Catholic Schools now, the Catholics did not wnat the schools to teach them that Catholics are wrong and not real Christians.

    Just soemthing to think about

  2. knowerseeker
    October 7th, 2009 - 10:36 am

    So, in other words, virtually all of America’s population was Christian, and *most* of her leaders were as well, but a small number of prominent leaders were Deists. These Deists made up the bulk of who we think of today as “The Founding Fathers”, but they more or less executed the duties of their office in accordance with the Christian values of the populace as opposed to their own personal Deist views.

  3. Jenn Sierra
    October 7th, 2009 - 10:51 am

    Sorry, y’all, but no. A true “Deist” would never have written or signed off on this:

    “…We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” – Declaration of Independence, 1776

    The whole concept that most of our Founders were Deists is nothing but a lie of the secularists…designed to instill doubt in Christian Americans about the heritage of Christianity in the U.S.

    Stix – I don’t know why, but I just saw this. You might be interested in reading Bill Federer’s Backfired. Also see: What Happened to the New England Primer and a Slateboard?

  4. knowerseeker
    October 7th, 2009 - 11:42 am

    It’s becoming hard to know what’s true or false anymore; “the truth” today seems to depend on whether you personally lean liberal or conservative. (I lean neither and both; I am a Christian Socialist.) I was educated in public school (possibly a liberal influence) and public college (definitely liberal) where I was taught that the Founding Fathers were mostly Deists with a Christian or two thrown in. Now conservative Christians (and conservative private schools and colleges) are saying that it was the other way around.

    There are historical documents that show particular Founding Fathers expressing Deist notions and others showcasing Christian ideals. I would have to research every document written by each Founding Father to figure out if that particular guy was “more Christian” or “more Deist” since I can’t depend on the “truth” told to me by “experts” anymore, and I don’t have the time or the care for that.

    Either way, what is not in dispute is the inclination of the American People back then, which was overwhelmingly Christian. That alone leads me to say that The U.S. has historically been a Christian state. And that *isn’t* coming from a righty.

  5. Jenn Sierra
    October 7th, 2009 - 12:15 pm

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience on that, K.S.. I’m sure a lot of folks can relate to the frustration of not knowing what to believe anymore based on what they’ve been taught in school.