The inclusion of the much-beloved secular myth of the 'deist' George Washington, popular in atheist circles (except those that actually know some history), demolishes the article's credibility.
What evidence do you have to support Washington's belief in Christianity? Which specific claim about Washington are you refuting?
Didn't see this, sorry. The mountain of evidence is compiled
here, in a book based on 15 years of thorough research and carefully documented of sources.
I will simply quote from the concluding chapter: "Washington never claimed to be a Deist. In fact, he criticized Deism on various occasions, as we have demonstrated throughout
Sacred Fire and as summarized below. And further, he openly and repeatedly claimed to be a Christian. ... By way of review, Washington's rejection of the foundational tenets of Deism can be seen by the following:
"+ Deism claimed an absentee God. Washington proclaimed an active God of Providence in history some 270 times;
+ Deism rejected divine revelation. Washington declared America's greatest benefit was 'the benign light of revelation;' He alluded and referred to the Bible over 200 times;
+ Deism held to the non-divinity of Christ. Washington declared Christ to be the 'Divine Author of our Blessed religion.' Throughout his life, Washington supported Christian missionary efforts, declaring 'and above all learn the religion of Jesus Christ.'
+ Deists considered prayer to be useless. Washington composed over 100 written prayers, openly writing of his 'pious,' 'earnest,' and 'fervent' prayers. Washington marveled at God's providential care for the American colonies.
+ Deism affirmed the equality of all religions. Washington called on America "to imitate" Christ, "the Divine Author of our Blessed Religion," in his "humility, charity, and pacific temper of mind.' He called on America to pursue 'true religion;' since only in this way could we be 'a happy nation.'
+ Deism sought the exclusion of religion from government. Washington claimed that 'true religion is the surest support for government,' and that 'religion and morality are indispensable supports for political happiness.' ...
+ Deism reflected an anti-clergy spirit that also reflected itself in no-participation in the churches. Washington was a faithful church attendee and superlative vestryman, with literally scores of friends and correspondents who were Christian ministers.
+ Washington, in fact, never even used the words 'Deist' or 'Deism.' His closest synonym was 'infidel.' And when he used the word, he said that a man was 'worse than an infidel" who could deny God's Providence in a specific instance during the war. Referring to the same sort of unbelief, he said, 'that man is bad indeed.' In his Farewell Address, he publicly warned Americans of those whose 'peculiar Structure of mind' would lead them to remove the 'indispensable supports of religion and morality' from government.
"In summation, there is not a hint anywhere in Washington's writings that he ever wanted to be considered anything other than a Christian. ... Those who would transform him into a Deist must produce the requisite written, historical evidence to show that he intended to be viewed as a Deist. Scholars have no authority simply to revise history in an effort to accommodate an increasingly secular America. The facts remain the facts, even when they are manipulated and shaded to hide the truth. And the facts explicitly demonstrate that Washington was a Christian.
"We ask every scholar in America this simple request--provide us with only
one historically verifiable statement from Washington's pen where he declares himself to be a Deist. We only ask for
one. But the truth is, it cannot be found. There is no evidence for Washington's Deism. It is a scholarly myth. The Deist Washington is an exemplar of the very worst of scholarly, historical revisionism. ..."
There is of course much more, even in the concluding chapter, and also in the book's ten lengthy appendixes.
