Comments on: George Washington Praised Infidel Church http://www.positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:22:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Positive Liberty » The Pietists Strike Back http://www.positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-527997 Positive Liberty » The Pietists Strike Back Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:06:00 +0000 http://positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-527997 [...] As Franklin noted above, all religion need teach to produce the needed virtue was the existence of an overriding Providence and future state of rewards and punishments. The theistic rationalists believed good people were rewarded immediately with Heaven, the bad temporarily punished eventually redeemed. As Washington put it, speaking of the death of a relative: “She is now no more! But she must be happy, because her virtue has a claim to it.” Finally, here is Washington praising a Universalist Church, one that in its official doctrines denied eternal damnation, as one that provided necessary supports for American civil institutions: GENTLEMEN, [...] [...] As Franklin noted above, all religion need teach to produce the needed virtue was the existence of an overriding Providence and future state of rewards and punishments. The theistic rationalists believed good people were rewarded immediately with Heaven, the bad temporarily punished eventually redeemed. As Washington put it, speaking of the death of a relative: “She is now no more! But she must be happy, because her virtue has a claim to it.” Finally, here is Washington praising a Universalist Church, one that in its official doctrines denied eternal damnation, as one that provided necessary supports for American civil institutions: GENTLEMEN, [...]

]]> By: Positive Liberty » The Pietists Strike Back http://www.positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-527998 Positive Liberty » The Pietists Strike Back Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:06:00 +0000 http://positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-527998 [...] As Franklin noted above, all religion need teach to produce the needed virtue was the existence of an overriding Providence and future state of rewards and punishments. The theistic rationalists believed good people were rewarded immediately with Heaven, the bad temporarily punished eventually redeemed. As Washington put it, speaking of the death of a relative: “She is now no more! But she must be happy, because her virtue has a claim to it.” Finally, here is Washington praising a Universalist Church, one that in its official doctrines denied eternal damnation, as one that provided necessary supports for American civil institutions: GENTLEMEN, [...] [...] As Franklin noted above, all religion need teach to produce the needed virtue was the existence of an overriding Providence and future state of rewards and punishments. The theistic rationalists believed good people were rewarded immediately with Heaven, the bad temporarily punished eventually redeemed. As Washington put it, speaking of the death of a relative: “She is now no more! But she must be happy, because her virtue has a claim to it.” Finally, here is Washington praising a Universalist Church, one that in its official doctrines denied eternal damnation, as one that provided necessary supports for American civil institutions: GENTLEMEN, [...]

]]> By: Positive Liberty » Was Alexander Hamilton a Christian Statesman? http://www.positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-452684 Positive Liberty » Was Alexander Hamilton a Christian Statesman? Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:55:18 +0000 http://positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-452684 [...] The orthodox, on the other hand, understood atheism, deism, unitarianism, and universalism to be “infidelity.” Here is, for instance, orthodox figure from the Founding era, Bishop Meade on how theological universalism is “infidelity”: “I have other reasons for knowing that infidelity, under the specious garb of Universalism, was then finding its way into the pulpit.” And to show how the theistic rationalists had a different understanding of “infidelity,” here is George Washington praising that very “infidel” theology as “sound” religion. It gives me the most sensible pleasure to find, that, in our nation, however different are the sentiments of citizens on religious doctrines, they generally concur in one thing; for their political professions and practices are almost universally friendly to the order and happiness of our civil institutions. I am also happy in finding this disposition particularly evinced by your society. [...] [...] The orthodox, on the other hand, understood atheism, deism, unitarianism, and universalism to be “infidelity.” Here is, for instance, orthodox figure from the Founding era, Bishop Meade on how theological universalism is “infidelity”: “I have other reasons for knowing that infidelity, under the specious garb of Universalism, was then finding its way into the pulpit.” And to show how the theistic rationalists had a different understanding of “infidelity,” here is George Washington praising that very “infidel” theology as “sound” religion. It gives me the most sensible pleasure to find, that, in our nation, however different are the sentiments of citizens on religious doctrines, they generally concur in one thing; for their political professions and practices are almost universally friendly to the order and happiness of our civil institutions. I am also happy in finding this disposition particularly evinced by your society. [...]

]]> By: Positive Liberty » On the Other Hand… http://www.positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-396839 Positive Liberty » On the Other Hand… Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:08:12 +0000 http://positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-396839 [...] This is not exactly how an orthodox Christian would put it. Personally I believe that Washington, like the other key founders probably believed that good people by their works merit Heaven immediately upon death, the bad, temporarily punished, eventually redeemed. Washington’s writings give no hint that he believed in eternal damnation. Or if he did, he certainly had a cavalier attitude towards the concept. The orthodox who posited the notion of eternal damnation tended to think it very important that folks believe it and termed theological universalism “infidelity.” For instance, Bishop Meade, an Episcopalian and an orthodox Christian, stated: “I have other reasons for knowing that infidelity, under the specious garb of Universalism, was then finding its way into the pulpit.” [...] [...] This is not exactly how an orthodox Christian would put it. Personally I believe that Washington, like the other key founders probably believed that good people by their works merit Heaven immediately upon death, the bad, temporarily punished, eventually redeemed. Washington’s writings give no hint that he believed in eternal damnation. Or if he did, he certainly had a cavalier attitude towards the concept. The orthodox who posited the notion of eternal damnation tended to think it very important that folks believe it and termed theological universalism “infidelity.” For instance, Bishop Meade, an Episcopalian and an orthodox Christian, stated: “I have other reasons for knowing that infidelity, under the specious garb of Universalism, was then finding its way into the pulpit.” [...]

]]> By: Jon Rowe http://www.positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-370365 Jon Rowe Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:46:24 +0000 http://positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-370365 It was a single meeting house of a particular church in which he was involved in building. I think the quotation is relevant because it illustrates <i>his</i> creedally indifferent religious theology. It was a single meeting house of a particular church in which he was involved in building. I think the quotation is relevant because it illustrates his creedally indifferent religious theology.

]]> By: AMW http://www.positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-370363 AMW Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:43:30 +0000 http://positiveliberty.com/2007/08/george-washington-praised-infidel-church.html#comment-370363 Jon, The "Mufti of Constantinople" quote seems to be referring to a single meeting house, not all churches in general. Franklin was not an orthodox Christian (even David Baron admits as much), but you might be careful using that quotation to drive home your point, because it could leave you open to criticism. Jon,

The “Mufti of Constantinople” quote seems to be referring to a single meeting house, not all churches in general. Franklin was not an orthodox Christian (even David Baron admits as much), but you might be careful using that quotation to drive home your point, because it could leave you open to criticism.

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