Abraham Lincoln - From Skeptic to Prophet

[Gene C]

Written by Wayne Temple.

This is a very in depth study on the religious views of Abraham Lincoln. I have mixed feelings about this book. Certain parts of this book were very interesting, and other parts very dry. It is about 400 pages with lots of footnotes.

This must have been a difficult subject to write abut, as Mr. Lincoln was a very private man in regards to his own personal views. He had a strong faith in God, and eventually believed he was God's tool to carry out his will. The challenge was to figure out what God's purpose for him was, and how to accomplish it.

The book was full of interesting details, but there were about 65 pages on Lincoln's death and funeral, especially the funeral sermons. That was a bit too much for me. Also another 60 plus pages about Mary, Tad and Robert (mostly Mary) after the assassination that was fairly interesting, but didn't seem to have much to do with the main book topic. There seemed to be a lot of background information about different ministers that Lincoln was acquainted with (and that didn't seem necessary)

IMO this book is more for someone who really wants to know about the religious aspect of Lincoln's life (which I did). I'll give it three out of five stars. While interesting, it's not a book I will pick up and reread from cover to cover.

http://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Lincoln-Fr...to+prophet

The price has gone up considerably since I purchased mine new in Nov. of 12'. Since I'm conservative on price, I would recommend a good used copy.

[LincolnMan]

Thank you Gene for reviewing this book. I went over to Amazon to check out the prices- which get a little expensive. Still it sounds like a book I would personally really enjoy. I like to read the funeral sermons by the way!

[L Verge]

While I am not by any means an expert on Lincoln history, Dr. Wayne Temple has always been regarded as one of the best in the field from what I have read and heard.

[Gene C]

Bill, some of the funeral sermons and prayers were quite moving, especially the one in Washington.
It was interesting to see how much President Lincoln referenced God and passages from the Bible in his formal speaches. Lincoln seemed to believe the Civil War was God's punishment on the nation because of slavery, and that he was God's instrument to end it.

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/linc...quotes.htm

(note the third from the last quote made at the second inaugural address & the 4th quote in the Partial List of Quotations During the Presidency)

[RJNorton]

(04-14-2014 01:01 PM)L Verge Wrote:  While I am not by any means an expert on Lincoln history, Dr. Wayne Temple has always been regarded as one of the best in the field from what I have read and heard.

Another good book by Dr. Temple is By Square & Compass: Saga of the Lincoln Home. If a better book on the Lincoln Home exists I do not know of it.

[L Verge]

His book on the steamboat River Queen sure came in handy when Erik Jendresen was looking for information on it relative to the trip to City Point.