Washington Wasn't Christian
-- But Who Cares?
Elizabeth WH
From: "Elizabeth W H."
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Big list of quotes
Date: Thursday, January 18, 2001 9:58 PM
Dear Editor:
I'm sure you do not want to hear this, but I feel it quite wrong to post false information for the world to see. George Washington was a man of strong Christian faith. Gouverneur Morris, though a bright man, was a man of "loose morals", as his colleagues put it, and was not known for his honesty. So, of course, you chose to cite his quote for use against George Washington. What about every other man alive in his time? In the chapel in the Capital Building, in a stained glass window, is an inspiring picture of George Washington, on his knees, praying. Washington's friends and contemporaries said this was a position George Washington often took. In the original 1855 version of "George Washington's Maxims", Washington's maxims were divided into four sections, "Political", "Social", "Moral", and "Religious". In the introduction for the "Religious" section of maxims, John Frederick Schroeder, the compiler of Washington's maxims, collected quotes from Washington's contemporaries about his faith. Chief Justice John Marshall, Elias Boudinot, J. Smith, Reverend Jarrett, and others all stated that George Washington was a sincere believer in the Christian faith.
I am convinced that George Washington was a strong Christian, and your quotes which were to change my mind simply confirmed my opinion--George Washington was a Christian. I do not understand how you Atheists can truly believe there is no God. The universe did not just come to be, and all the scientists in the world cannot prove that. What was there in the beginning? Nothing, you say. It is not possible to make something out of nothing, and most certainly not a complete universe with living things where life has thrived for such a long time. No. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) In the beginning was nothing but God. Now I pray you will understand what I am saying to you...your claims are impossible. I hope and pray someday God will get to you. Sincerely,
A reader
From: "Positive Atheism Magazine" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "Elizabeth W H." <>
Subject: Re: Big list of quotes
Date: Friday, January 19, 2001 3:34 AM
I'm sure you do not want to hear this, but I feel it quite wrong to post false information for the world to see.
Of course we'd like to hear truth spoken. We celebrate each time someone makes a convincing case for their position and shows us something that we didn't already know. We also celebrate whenever we catch someone in a lie, because this shows that humans can and do think for themselves if they want to, and that the power of chicanery, particularly opportunistic religious charlatanism, is on the wane, and will soon roll over and die.
Unfortunately, we have strong reason to suspect that what you are saying here is not truth. We have thoroughly covered the falsehoods you attempt convey here. By your feeble attempt at denouncing the character of one man, Governor Morris, you expect to overthrow all the careful study we've presented here?
I wonder why you'd want to do this! And to what end?
I do not understand how you Atheists can truly believe there is no God.
Ah! Some insight!
You here admit that you are incapable of even imagining how someone could fail to agree with your dogma! Thus, since it is inconceivable to you that someone would disagree with you, you would probably go to any lengths -- including dishonesty -- to assert your claim to truthfulness. And in lieu of a convincing case, all you have left is pound your chest and assert.
Finally, may I suggest that you at least find out what atheism is before discussing the topic with an atheist. You are here attacking your own false definition for atheist.
your quotes which were to change my mind simply confirmed my opinion--George Washington was a Christian.
We wouldn't expect someone who believes to be convinced by evidence that lie outside that person's faith-based, cultic world view. Only someone who thinks, who is willing to follow truth wherever it may lead, regardless of the cost, can be expected to change their mind on matters that could impact their loyalty to the tribal totem.
It is not possible to make something out of nothing, and most certainly not a complete universe with living things where life has thrived for such a long time.
So, then, you would overthrow the entire science of particle physics, which has demonstrated (among other things) that a "singularity" (a positron-electron pair, with a sum of zero energy) can and does manifest out of nothing, equals zero energy, and can and does assimilate back into nothing? You are asking me to disregard an entire branch of science which has shown, in several different ways, that the sum of energy in the universe equals approximately zero, which suggests that the universe could only have come from nothing -- not something -- and could only have utilized zero energy to get here? That's what physicists are saying these days. It is religion which misrepresents science by making statements such as, "it is not possible to make something out of nothing" and then uses this incomplete understanding, cloaked in scientific terminology, to try to overthrow science itself!
Well, thus far, science has done a much better job at making predictions and at bringing peace and harmony to humankind than has the Christian religion.
Which would you choose if you were me? I would choose science over all other methods I've encountered, and I would choose the Christian religion close to last among all other belief systems I've encountered. I would even put the Christian religion behind the other major religions, such as Islam and Hinduism. At least those systems did not systematically oppose human scientific inquiry (though they had their moments).
Meanwhile, can you give more than this to convince me that you are telling the truth? In other words, am I to prefer the ancient tales told by illiterate goat-herders around a campfire of camel dung over the accumulated knowledge of the world's scientists -- just because you tell me so? or can you make a case for yourself?
If you cannot make a convincing case for these claims, then I have no reason to believe anything else you say -- neither about the Father of our Country, nor about this thing you call "The Word."
So, then, have a nice life. As far as we can tell, it's the only one we get.
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
Five years of service to
people with no reason to believe
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