What I'm Reading #69

I've just finished a lovely little book on the religious beliefs of 10 of our found fathers: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Paine, James Monroe, James Madison, John Jay, Elias Boudinot, and Sam Adams.  It also goes into some detail regarding the religious views of colonial women and the wives, daughters and step-daughters of some of these men.  Furthermore, there is are chapters dedicated to the general condition of religion in the colonial period, it's manifestations in the colonies circa 1770 and in particular explorations on the tenants and divergences of Deist theology versus orthodox Christianity and the Great awaken revivals of the time period.  So many enlightening ideas.

Four things I really enjoyed: 1) A nice overview of the state of Christian and Jewish faith in American c. 1770, 2) An especially nice and honest assessment of Maryland's "Toleration Act," 3) An appalling recounting of the lies Evangelicals told and propagated about George Washington's religious views and practices by people who had never, ever met the man and in full opposition to the repudiation of his adopted granddaughter, and various bishops and priest in whose churches he actually attended service. What is it in the psyche of the Evangelist that drives them to twist the truth in order to score points and justify their point of view? And 4) I LOVE Thomas Paine! I love that he emigrated to America at the invitation of Benjamin Franklin, that he went to France during their bloody revolution and nearly got his head guillotined, but was rescued by James Monroe before he was president and while he was America's ambassador to Paris. What an amazing life! And the things he wrote about religion warmed the cockles of my heart.