Lincoln and religion

[Rob Wick]

Gene,

You are absolutely correct that Willie's death proved to be a turning point in his life, and I also agree with you that Lincoln's knowledge of the Bible was well-versed (pun fully intended), although it certainly was for any literary person. Mind you, I'm not saying that he learned the Bible simply to utilize it as a literary device, but I also think he got as much enjoyment out of Robert Burns or Shakespeare as he did the Bible--indeed, I think he used all those to bring his points and views to other people.

Your point about deep belief and faith in God, however, in my opinion, only describes the Lincoln late in life. It was the Lincoln who saw the brutality and carnage going on in his name. It was the Lincoln who also was coming to terms with his own mortality.

His decision to not join a formal church (although he certainly attended) or to express agreement with one particular doctrine, I believe, speaks more of the skeptic in his mind, which I don't think he ever fully got rid of. Unbridled atheism in his day was very rare. Plus, for someone with the hope for a political career it would have been professional suicide, but I think the Lincoln that lost his mother, his sister, Ann Rutledge, and who was generally melancholic in general where life was concerned, never held a deep belief in God. Indeed, I think he probably blamed God for the tragedy he had seen in his life. To not do so would, I think, require super-human strength that no one possesses.

Best
Rob