My Understanding

[Jonathan Rowe]

Hello All,

Perhaps I can shed some light on the Deist v. Christian questions you raised here. This comes after years of meticulous research. The notable Founding Fathers were not, as the secular left oft-argues "Deists" as strictly defined (Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen were such). However, they were not "Christians" as evangelicals and Catholics understand the term either. Rather, their beliefs were somewhere in between the two systems, with "rationalism" as the trumping element. Gordon Wood, when I saw him speak, defined it as "proto-unitarianism." The term I opt for is "theistic rationalism."

The key Founders to whom I refer are Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and a few others. Contra strict Deists, they believed in an active interventionist God, one to whom men ought to pray. And they were more likely to call their system of belief "Christianity," not "Deism." However, this system of "Christianity" (if it's even fair to term it that) was unitarian (meaning it disbelieved in the Trinity or that Jesus was fully God) universalist (it believed in salvation for everyone) syncretist (it believed most or all religions, including Hinduism and ISLAM were valid ways to God) and rationalist (meaning it believed man's reason superseded revelation and in fact determined which parts of the Bible were legitimately revealed by God).

For all of my meticulous research on the matter check out my websites http://jonrowe.blogspot.com and http://positiveliberty.com.

[Clarice]

Hello All,

Perhaps I can shed some light on the Deist v. Christian questions you raised here. This comes after years of meticulous research. The notable Founding Fathers were not, as the secular left oft-argues "Deists" as strictly defined (Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen were such). However, they were not "Christians" as evangelicals and Catholics understand the term either. Rather, their beliefs were somewhere in between the two systems, with "rationalism" as the trumping element. Gordon Wood, when I saw him speak, defined it as "proto-unitarianism." The term I opt for is "theistic rationalism."

The key Founders to whom I refer are Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and a few others. Contra strict Deists, they believed in an active interventionist God, one to whom men ought to pray. And they were more likely to call their system of belief "Christianity," not "Deism." However, this system of "Christianity" (if it's even fair to term it that) was unitarian (meaning it disbelieved in the Trinity or that Jesus was fully God) universalist (it believed in salvation for everyone) syncretist (it believed most or all religions, including Hinduism and ISLAM were valid ways to God) and rationalist (meaning it believed man's reason superseded revelation and in fact determined which parts of the Bible were legitimately revealed by God).

For all of my meticulous research on the matter check out my websites http://jonrowe.blogspot.com and http://positiveliberty.com.

Being a fan and student of history, I appreciate this post, Jonathan.

Often words and events are taken out of context, to piece together a picture supporting one's pre-suppositions - such as been the case with the premise that conservative Christianity is the religion of the founding fathers, this country then belonging to those of today who hold to such a philosophy.

Thank you again, and welcome to Tweb.



Clarice

[Jonathan Rowe]

My pleasure!

[SteveF]

Hi Jonathan, welcome to TWeb. I've read some of your articles, via Ed Brayton, and am looking forward to seeing your contributions here.

[Amazing Rando]

Hello All,

Perhaps I can shed some light on the Deist v. Christian questions you raised here. This comes after years of meticulous research. The notable Founding Fathers were not, as the secular left oft-argues "Deists" as strictly defined (Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen were such). However, they were not "Christians" as evangelicals and Catholics understand the term either. Rather, their beliefs were somewhere in between the two systems, with "rationalism" as the trumping element. Gordon Wood, when I saw him speak, defined it as "proto-unitarianism." The term I opt for is "theistic rationalism."

The key Founders to whom I refer are Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and a few others. Contra strict Deists, they believed in an active interventionist God, one to whom men ought to pray. And they were more likely to call their system of belief "Christianity," not "Deism." However, this system of "Christianity" (if it's even fair to term it that) was unitarian (meaning it disbelieved in the Trinity or that Jesus was fully God) universalist (it believed in salvation for everyone) syncretist (it believed most or all religions, including Hinduism and ISLAM were valid ways to God) and rationalist (meaning it believed man's reason superseded revelation and in fact determined which parts of the Bible were legitimately revealed by God).

For all of my meticulous research on the matter check out my websites http://jonrowe.blogspot.com and http://positiveliberty.com.

Wow, imagine that- an issue that's not black and white! Well said.

[Ratnat]

Hello All,

Perhaps I can shed some light on the Deist v. Christian questions you raised here. This comes after years of meticulous research. The notable Founding Fathers were not, as the secular left oft-argues "Deists" as strictly defined (Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen were such). However, they were not "Christians" as evangelicals and Catholics understand the term either. Rather, their beliefs were somewhere in between the two systems, with "rationalism" as the trumping element. Gordon Wood, when I saw him speak, defined it as "proto-unitarianism." The term I opt for is "theistic rationalism."

The key Founders to whom I refer are Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and a few others. Contra strict Deists, they believed in an active interventionist God, one to whom men ought to pray. And they were more likely to call their system of belief "Christianity," not "Deism." However, this system of "Christianity" (if it's even fair to term it that) was unitarian (meaning it disbelieved in the Trinity or that Jesus was fully God) universalist (it believed in salvation for everyone) syncretist (it believed most or all religions, including Hinduism and ISLAM were valid ways to God) and rationalist (meaning it believed man's reason superseded revelation and in fact determined which parts of the Bible were legitimately revealed by God).

For all of my meticulous research on the matter check out my websites http://jonrowe.blogspot.com and http://positiveliberty.com.

Excellent blog and post.

Everybody seems to want the Founders in their camp.lol

There are way too many labels and sub-labels in use today to simply paste one on a historical figure. I also think too many use 50+ years of writing by an individual and pick out what agrees with their position.

In my less than half a century life, I personally have been a devout Christian, Unitarian Universalist, Deist, Atheist. I have to wonder what label I would be given 100 yrs from now based on my affiliations and writings.lol

[Paintbucket]

Good stuff, I learned quite a bit in reading this.

[Tladatsi]

Hello,

So why the interest in the faith of the founding fathers?

Hello All,

Perhaps I can shed some light on the Deist v. Christian questions you raised here. This comes after years of meticulous research. The notable Founding Fathers were not, as the secular left oft-argues "Deists" as strictly defined (Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen were such). However, they were not "Christians" as evangelicals and Catholics understand the term either. Rather, their beliefs were somewhere in between the two systems, with "rationalism" as the trumping element. Gordon Wood, when I saw him speak, defined it as "proto-unitarianism." The term I opt for is "theistic rationalism."

The key Founders to whom I refer are Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and a few others. Contra strict Deists, they believed in an active interventionist God, one to whom men ought to pray. And they were more likely to call their system of belief "Christianity," not "Deism." However, this system of "Christianity" (if it's even fair to term it that) was unitarian (meaning it disbelieved in the Trinity or that Jesus was fully God) universalist (it believed in salvation for everyone) syncretist (it believed most or all religions, including Hinduism and ISLAM were valid ways to God) and rationalist (meaning it believed man's reason superseded revelation and in fact determined which parts of the Bible were legitimately revealed by God).

For all of my meticulous research on the matter check out my websites http://jonrowe.blogspot.com and http://positiveliberty.com.

[Whipartist]

Good thoughts Jonathan, I'm going to check out those links. I remember listening to the lithany of "Reclaiming America For Christ" styled radio broadcast on Christian radio when I was in highschool and getting so sick of it all.

I came to the conclusion that the Revolutionary War was not Biblical and that founding father worship was a Christian cult, so to speak. Great point.

More recently I've learned about the occultic involvement that some of the founding fathers had and it's becoming clearer all the time.