Washington DC
Anyone that believes the Founding Fathers believed religion and politics should be separated is ignorant. The Bill of Rights' declaration that religious freedom was not to be legislated against was a statement of non-preferential treatment, not a declaration of governmental atheism.
"Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens... are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion.... No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively." Taken from A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1777 (Passed by the Virginia Assembly in 1786). See the Jefferson Memorial writings page.
Mark E. Petersen, in his book The Way to Peace, said:
THE FOUNDERS OF our nation were wise men. Faced with the sternest realities of life, they were compelled to look facts squarely in the face and act accordingly. Theirs were life and death choices. They could not indulge in trivial sentimentalities.
Out of such experience these founding fathers were convinced that America cannot alienate herself from divine principles of righteousness and survive.
George Washington, our first president, was a leader in this thought. He so expressed himself repeatedly. He knew that freedom came to America by act of God, and he knew equally well that freedom would remain here only as the citizens serve God.
Said he at one time:
"We ought to be persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained."
Franklin spoke out even more pointedly, demanding not only faith but works as well. He denounced the tendency to put empty creeds before virtue, and reminded his fellow Americans that when we stand before the judgment bar of God "our recommendation will not be that we said, Lord, Lord, but that we did good to our fellowmen." Thoughtful leaders of American life from Washington's day to ours have repeatedly said that to survive, America must turn to God in an earnest and sincere way.
President Lincoln recognized the hand of providence in US history as he spoke at his second inaugural address saying,
If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
I think that the Founding Father's viewed the revolution in much the same way as Nephi. (See 1 Nephi 13)
15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.
17 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.
18 And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.
19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.
Other links related to the founding fathers.
