George Washington wasn't a Christian, but a Theistic Rationalist.
And when he and the other Founders said, "Religion" in a generic sense, they meant "religion" in a generic sense not necessarily Christianity. If they wanted to specify Christianity only, they could have (and a few of them did).
Why are atheists so deeply invested in perpetrating lie?
Here's evidence, if you're not too dogmatic and closed minded to read it:
Was George Washington a Christian?"
A few more samples that might uncloud your foggy mind:
...” In George Washington's Speech to Delaware Indian Chiefs on May 12, 1779 he said, “You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.” (Note: This was said BEFORE the Constitution was written or ratified with the Bill of Rights which would prohibit CONGRESS from doing this... however, it illustrates that George Washington INTENTIONS were to proselytize CHRISTIANITY, not "theological rationalism" (a code word for "unbelief").
In one of George Washington’s prayers, he said, "Make me to know what is acceptable in Thy sight, and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith, and repentance, increase my faith, and direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life, ..."
John Jay was the first Chief Justice of he Supreme Court. He said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."
John Dickinson said, "To my Creator, I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity."
First of all, I'm not an atheist. Second of all, George Washington's prayer book from which you take, has been debunked as at best inauthentic, at worst a fraud. Third of all, Washington's speech given to the Indians (which wasn't even in his own hand) was done in the context of telling Indians how best to assimilate into American culture. At other times when speaking to the Natives he referred to God as "The Great Spirit" exactly as they did suggesting that the Native Americans worshipped the same God as everyone else (b/c he was a universalist, which is a tenet of theistic rationalism).
There is not a shred of compelling evidence that Washington's belief system differed in any meaningful way from Jefferson's or Franklin's.
Cheers,
Jon Rowe
The Library of Congress's exhibit on the Role of Religion and the Founding of America (http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06.html) attests to what I said in my blog entry. Take up your beef with them or the University of Virginia, whose library contains a large collection of George Washington's writings.
The LOC website SAYS that George Washington was an Episcopalian vestryman, and everybody knows it. It is an authorative source explaining
what the controversy over religious freedom was all about. What later has been referred to as the "separation of church and state" arose between
a) those who didn't want an establishment of STATE religion as had been done in Europe,, i.e. BAPTISTS "separatists" independent from mainstream denominations, and
b) those who wanted faith to have a GREATER ROLE in government, i.e. Congregationalists, Episcopals, Catholics, etc. because they were USED TO church and state being intertwined in Europe.
HOWEVER, none of them even Franklin, Jefferson and those who were not "Christians" per se , wanted to SANITIZE religious principle and Christian morality out of both the State and the Culture as you and your secular taliban are trying to do. They understood the utility of morality and religion in politics and SAID SO repeatedly. Franklin even suggested the First Constitutional Convention break for PRAYER and quoted SCRIPTURE when they had reached an impassse. "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it".
This is documented history so get over it. So, yes, I don't doubt that one of the motives behind Washington's comments to the Delaware Indians WAS that it was "how BEST to assimilate into American culture", at the very least. If his advice was good enough for Indians, why isn't it good enough for you??
ONE FINAL COMMENT:
George Washington warned us in his Farewell Address that folks with your ideas would along. "In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. .
Your arguments are the best evidence that he was RIGHT.
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