Were the Founding Fathers Christian? The Historical Truth

Jimmy Fortunato

• 2 min read
Were the Founding Fathers Christian? The Historical Truth
The Founding Fathers of America—including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin—were largely deists rather than Christians, contrary to popular belief. Historical evidence reveals their skepticism toward biblical Christianity, while the Pilgrims and Puritans represented America's true Christian foundations.

The Christian Nation Myth

You've heard it before: "America was founded as a Christian nation." This claim appears throughout conservative media and patriotic Christianity, but does historical evidence support it? The religious beliefs of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and other founding fathers may surprise you.

The Founding Fathers' Actual Religious Views

Thomas Paine: Revolutionary with Anti-Christian Views

Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" helped inspire the American Revolution, but in "The Age of Reason," he revealed his true beliefs:

  • He called the Bible "a history of the grossest vices"
  • He described Christianity as "the fable of Jesus Christ"
  • He maintained until his death, that Jesus was not prophesied in scripture

Benjamin Franklin: Freemason and Deist

Benjamin Franklin, signer of both the Declaration and Constitution:

  • Served as Master of Philadelphia's Masonic Lodge
  • Rejected core Christian doctrines like original sin
  • Embraced deism while maintaining public moral appearance

George Washington: Moral Leader but Not Christian

Our first president:

  • Regularly left church during communion services
  • Was described by his own pastor as "a deist"
  • Embraced Freemasonry with the motto "Deeds not works"

John Adams and the Treaty of Tripoli

Our second president:

  • Openly rejected the Trinity as "a fabrication"
  • Oversaw the Treaty of Tripoli, which explicitly stated: "the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion"

Thomas Jefferson's Edited Bible

Jefferson's religious views were particularly revealing:

  • Created the "Jefferson Bible" by removing all miracles, the resurrection, and supernatural elements
  • Called the Book of Revelation "the ravings of a maniac"
  • Believed in moral teachings but rejected Christ's divinity

America's True Christian Roots

For authentic Christian foundations in American history, look instead to:

  • The Pilgrims (1620) - Separatists led by William Bradford seeking religious freedom
  • The Puritans (1630) - Led by John Winthrop, bringing the King James Bible to America

Why This History Matters for Christians Today

Understanding the founding fathers' actual beliefs helps believers:

  1. Distinguish between moral character and Christian faith
  2. Recognize when history is being misused for political purposes
  3. Remember that Christianity's battle is primarily spiritual, not political

While Christians should exercise their citizenship rights responsibly, the church remains a spiritual entity above all political powers.

The foundation of authentic Christianity is unchanged: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36).

This blog post only touches on this important topic. To gain a deeper understanding of the founding fathers' religious beliefs, listen to the full sermon here. You'll discover additional historical context and biblical insights that will challenge and strengthen your faith.

Click here for the complete sermon on "Were America's Founding Fathers Christians?"

#FoundingFathers #AmericanHistory #ChristianNation #ThomasJefferson #FaithAndPolitics

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