The Faiths Of The Founding Fathers First Edition 1st Printing David L Holmes by David L. Holmes 9780195300925, 0195300920 instant download after payment.

It is not uncommon to hear Christians argue that America was founded as a Christian nation. But how true is this claim?
In this compact book, David L. Holmes offers a clear, concise and
illuminating look at the spiritual beliefs of our founding fathers. He
begins with an informative account of the religious culture of the late
colonial era, surveying the religious groups in each colony. In
particular, he sheds light on the various forms of Deism that flourished
in America, highlighting the profound influence this intellectual
movement had on the founding generation. Holmes then examines the
individual beliefs of a variety of men and women who loom large in our
national history. He finds that some, like Martha Washington, Samuel
Adams, John Jay, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson's daughters, held
orthodox Christian views. But many of the most influential figures,
including Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John and Abigail Adams,
Jefferson, James and Dolley Madison, and James Monroe, were believers of
a different stripe. Respectful of Christianity, they admired the ethics
of Jesus, and believed that religion could play a beneficial role in
society. But they tended to deny the divinity of Christ, and a few seem
to have been agnostic about the very existence of God. Although the
founding fathers were religious men, Holmes shows that it was a faith
quite unlike the Christianity of today's evangelicals. Holmes concludes
by examining the role of religion in the lives of the presidents since
World War II and by reflecting on the evangelical resurgence that helped
fuel the reelection of George W. Bush.
An intriguing look at a neglected aspect of our history, the book
will appeal to American history buffs as well as to anyone concerned
about the role of religion in American culture.