Isn't it sadly ironic that we have "In God We Trust" on the same bill that an Atheist is depicted?

Question

Abraham Lincoln was an Atheist

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

So was Benjamin Franklin

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life, I absenteed myself from Christian assemblies."

"Lighthouses are more helpful then churches."

So being that both people who were highly influential are Atheists on a bill that says "in god we trust", shouldn't we NOT have that quote?

Answer 1

Lincoln didn't decide on it. Congress did.  See link below on the history of "In God We Trust"  this is from the Dept. Of the Treasury.  Very interesting info.

Answer 2

You needed something to keep you busy didn't you. Not True.

Answer 3

And George Washington was a dreaded Freemason!!!

Don't you just love it:

"This is a Christian nation founded by Christians!"

Right.

Answer 4

I know Lincoln never was a member of any church, but he was not an athiest

On March 4, 1865, Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address, his favorite of all his speeches. At this time, a victory over the rebels was at hand, slavery was dead, and Lincoln was looking to the future.

Fondly do we hope — fervently do we pray — that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether." With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.

Neither was Ben Franklin.  He was a Puritan

Hard work and equality were two Puritan values Ben Franklin preached throughout his own life and spread widely through Poor Richard's Almanac and his autobiography.

Neither was Jefferson.

You might as well quit while you are behind

Answer 5

So Franklin doesn't go to church and that makes him not a Christian? Have you read the statistics on how many present day "Christians" don't make a regular Church service?

Your assumption is wrong. Just because he's not in church doesn't mean he's not Christian. And if you have a problem with "In God we Trust", read what Dwight D. Eisenhower said on the matter.  

Answer 6

He attended church but probably to win voter's with the image. His belief system was and still is undetermined.  

Answer 7

You can make an argument Lincoln was an atheist but I can make an argument he wasn't.  He spoke of a god in many of his speeches and just because he isn't Christian doesn't make him an atheist.

Franklin was an atheist.  

Answer 8

Jefferson was like his namesake W Jefferson Clinton, a womanizer.  Worse than Bill, Jefferson for all his wonderful writing, owned slaves, bred slaves, profited from slavery and only released those slaves that were biologically related to him in his will. Maybe neither he nor Franklin should be on our currency.

Most of the men involved with the founding of this country had at least a huge respect for the Bible, and a willingness to submit to God's rule.

Abraham Lincoln said, "That I am not a member of any Christian Church, is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular.

(in a eulogy of Henry Clay) Such a man the times have demanded, and such, in the providence of God was given us."

Answer 9

  To say that the men you mentioned were atheists shows an abysmal lack of historical knowledge.  Most of these men, while not perfect believed in God, Jesus and the Bible in some sense and that they

were an important part of the countries governing.

"God Governs in the affairs of man.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can arise without His aid?  We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.  I firmly believe this.  I also believe that, without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babylon."

Benjamin Franklin- Constitutional Convention 1781

"God who gave us life gave us liberty.  And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God?

Thomas Jefferson- Notes on the state of Virginia Vol 4 p. 289

To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."  

George Washington- May 2, 1778 Valley Forge

"In regards to this great Book (the Bible), I have but to say it is the best gift God has given to man.  All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this Book.  But for it we could not know right from wrong.  All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter are found portrayed in it."

Abraham Lincoln.- Sept 7, 1864 Reply to Loyal Colored people of Baltimore upon presentation of a Bible.

And there are many hundreds more.  Research is often the answer for ignorance.

Answer 10

very lol

its no different at all than taking a dead pope . and making a dollar that says we love satan.

Answer 11

Whoa, we seriously had an atheist president?

I doubt that, sadly.

Proof?

Edit: Yeah, I'm pretty sure Franklin was an atheist.

Answer 12

Uh, their profession of not being Christian is not a declaration of Atheism...

Go look up Deist.

Answer 13

It's actually a secret code.  The "L" in "Lincoln" is supposed to be inserted into the word "GOD", to describe what the motto really means.

Answer 14

Please list your source. I have studied both of these men because of what people have said about them. Here is what I found they said themselves. I will site my sources, all of which are secular in nature.

Benjamin Franklin

http://www.franklinpapers.org/franklin/f...

Articles of belief and acts of religion

Here will I hold—If there is a Pow’r above us (And that there is, all Nature cries aloud, Thro’ all her Works), He must delight in Virtue And that which he delights in must be Happy.

http://www.historycarper.com/resources/t...

but content myself in submitting to the Will and Disposal of that God who made me, who has hitherto preserv'd and bless'd me, and in whose fatherly Goodness I may well confide, that he will never make me miserable, and that even the Afflictions I may at any time suffer shall tend to my Benefit.

The Worship of God is a Duty, the hearing and reading of Sermons may be useful; but if Men rest in Hearing and Praying, as too many do, it is as if a Tree should value itself on being water'd and putting forth Leaves, tho' it never produc'd any Fruit.

http://www.historycarper.com/resources/t...

The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 25, 1731

The great Author of our Faith, whose Life should be the constant Object of our Imitation,

and he frequently inculcated the same Disposition in his Doctrine and Precepts to his Disciples.

That is, as our Saviour himself explains it, Ye have visited, or ye have not visited, assisted and comforted those who stood in need of it, even tho' they were the least or meanest of Mankind. This Branch of Charity seems essential to the true Spirit of Christianity; and it should be extended to all in general, whether deserving or undeserving, as far as our Power reaches. Of the ten Lepers that were cleansed, nine seem to have been much more unworthy than the tenth, yet in respect of their Disease they equally shared the Goodness of God. And when the great Physician sent forth his Disciples, he always gave them a particular Charge, that into whatsoever City they entred, they should heal all the Sick, without distinction.

Abraham Lincoln

http://www.nps.gov/archive/liho/writer/f...

Without the assistance of that Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/...

All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/...

so that truth, and justice, and mercy, and all the humane and Christian virtues might not be extinguished from the land; so that no man would hereafter dare to limit and circumscribe the great principles on which the temple of liberty was being built.

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/tex...  

In the very responsible position in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am, and as we all are, to work out his great purposes, I have desired that all my works and acts may be according to his will,

You will notice that both of these men when they are refering to Jesus they use the term saviour. Both of these men were strong Christian men. Benjamin Franklin was the one who said that we owe much to our creator and we should start each session of congress with prayer. He wanted to make the official seal of the United States that showed God leading the Hebrew children in the wilderness by a cloud. Here is a government website that tells of the foundings of this great country.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/

You can find all kinds of things there like this.

The Continental-Confederation Congress, a legislative body that governed the United States from 1774 to 1789, contained an extraordinary number of deeply religious men. The amount of energy that Congress invested in encouraging the practice of religion in the new nation exceeded that expended by any subsequent American national government. Although the Articles of Confederation did not officially authorize Congress to concern itself with religion, the citizenry did not object to such activities. This lack of objection suggests that both the legislators and the public considered it appropriate for the national government to promote a nondenominational, nonpolemical Christianity.

Answer 15

i think he was more of a deist/theist. Isn't Jefferson on a bill too.

Answer 16

because he wasnt a christian doesnt mean he was an atheist, get a clue guy. Lincoln said on many occasions that his dead sons spirit came and talked to him.

Franklin was a huge supporter of religion in general as it kept control he was a deist.

know your history slick, not what the atheist sheep tell you

Answer 17

Washington wasn't as far as I'm aware of.  I've heard he used to pray.

Answer 18

Okay, I'll sign your petition.