Lincoln's Christianity by Michael Burkhimer

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When Abraham Lincoln lost his first run to the Reverend Peter Cartwright, it came home to him just how poorly received his atheism was to the Illinois voter. I wonder if Lincoln had lived in and ran for office in say Massachusetts, he would come out better, even if known as an atheist. On the other hand, I wonder what might have taken place if, during the bloodiest War in our history and millions suffering, Abraham Lincoln had delivered a speech free of golden biblical platitudes and plainly
said, "I myself am an atheist. I derive The Union origin from the 1774 Articles of Association, and for that cause your sons and fathers are waging this War"? He just might have lost the 1864 election.