AL and God

[STS Lincolnite]

The question of AL’s religion is a large one.

I think Gene’s statement in a previous post - “The tough part with this subject (at least for me) is to not take our own personal beliefs and make them his too.” – is so important. I think so many people, both now and in the past, have so admired and respected Lincoln that they want to see their own ideas and beliefs reflected in him. It builds, to them, a more tangible connection to a great man. Unfortunately, some also surreptitiously try to co-opt Lincoln’s ideas and beliefs only to advance their own agendas.

In attempting to be objective, I do think that Lincoln was in fact a religious man. Religion, in this case, being defined as a belief in a power greater than mankind or belief in a higher order of existence, if you will. However, I think that his religious beliefs defy easy categorization. As was true with many other topics/subjects, Lincoln’s ideas and beliefs were fluid and evolved over time. They were influenced by his personal experiences and ongoing study and examination. To place him strictly in one camp or another 150 years after the fact just doesn’t work (heck people tried when Lincoln was alive and it didn’t work then either). Furthermore, it probably isn’t fair to Mr. Lincoln.

Thomas Jefferson, like Lincoln, has had his religious beliefs studied and scrutinized over and over again with every imaginable conclusion being drawn. Jefferson, like Lincoln kept his own beliefs very close to the vest. He was continually pressed to declare his religious beliefs, and in a letter to Ezra Stiles Ely dated 25 June 1825 he wrote: “I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know.” I think that Lincoln, a great admirer of Jefferson, probably felt much the same way about his own religious beliefs.

In the end, whatever Lincoln’s religion was or was not, he was able to rise above great suffering, criticism and many other setbacks in his life. Still he persevered. He persevered to guide this nation through arguably its darkest hour. Whatever well spring he drew strength from should be respected for that in and of itself without necessarily needing to categorize it. Maybe the reason that so many see their own beliefs and ideas in Lincoln’s is that he shared elements of all of them.