Lincoln and religion

[LincolnMan]

In the book Lincoln A Life Of Purpose And Power by Richard Carwardine, a chapter is devoted to Lincoln's Inner Power (as he calls it). Lincoln's religious life is examined. Of special note to me was his mention of Lincoln's "determinism." Here is an excerpt from page 39 of the book:

On one feature of Lincoln's thought there was no disagreement, Lincoln described himself as a lifelong fatalist, and none demurred. "What is to be will be," he told Congressman Isaac Arnold. "I have found all my life as Hamlet says: 'There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will." Mary Todd heard that formulation many times, for as she confirmed to Herndon, Lincoln's "maxim and philosophy was- 'What is to be will be and no cares of ours can arrest the decree.'