Lincoln, a man of faith? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Archaea · 07-01-2007, 08:02 PM

Who knows.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/hol...es/33h010.html

The foregoing posits he was not enimical to faith.

The following suggests otherwise.

http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9468.htm

http://ffrf.org/day/?day=12&month=2

To me, there seems to be more evidence that he was atheist, and at the most agnostic.

Colly Wolly · 07-01-2007, 08:30 PM

He references deity in this famous letter. Looks he may not be the original author tho...

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creat...ches/bixby.htm

All-American · 07-01-2007, 09:06 PM

It seems that every suggestion that Lincoln was an atheist is second hand and/or contrived. One article shows that because Lincoln tried to change the word "God" in one speech to "maker", he didn't believe in God. That seems a stretch to me.

He does NOT have set, fixed beliefs; that much is apparent. He never joined a church or aligned himself with a particular mode of thought. That leaves him free to think, to wander, and to wonder. But he still seems to believe that SOMETHING is out there. The decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation hints at this as well.

Barring something more concrete, I'm inclined to say that if Lincoln worked so hard to get Americans to think he believed in God, we should believe him.

Archaea · 07-01-2007, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-American

Barring something more concrete, I'm inclined to say that if Lincoln worked so hard to get Americans to think he believed in God, we should believe him.

Somebody works hard to contrive an image and we should believe the contrivance?

All-American · 07-01-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

Somebody works hard to contrive an image and we should believe the contrivance?

BARRING SOMETHING MORE CONCRETE, I'm inclined to say that if Lincoln worked so hard to get Americans to think he believed in God, we should believe him.

Archaea · 07-01-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-American

BARRING SOMETHING MORE CONCRETE, I'm inclined to say that if Lincoln worked so hard to get Americans to think he believed in God, we should believe him.

Why is it morally imperative to believe him? Are we Kantian?

San Juan Sun · 07-02-2007, 02:29 AM

I read Team of Rivals. Goodwin suggested that Lincoln had shifting views on religion, but expressed belief in Diety throughout his life. She states that it's hard to know exactly what he thought, because he never really put it to paper, despite his voluminous writings.

All-American · 07-02-2007, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

Why is it morally imperative to believe him? Are we Kantian?

Because it seems to be the more compelling argument.

Frank Ryan · 07-02-2007, 04:26 AM

"When I do good I feel good. When I do bad I feel bad. That is my religion."

07-01-2007, 08:02 PM	#1
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	Lincoln, a man of faith? Who knows. http://www.christianitytoday.com/hol...es/33h010.html The foregoing posits he was not enimical to faith. The following suggests otherwise. http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9468.htm http://ffrf.org/day/?day=12&month=2 To me, there seems to be more evidence that he was atheist, and at the most agnostic. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

07-01-2007, 08:30 PM	#2
Colly Wolly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,281	He references deity in this famous letter. Looks he may not be the original author tho... http://showcase.netins.net/web/creat...ches/bixby.htm Last edited by Colly Wolly; 07-01-2007 at 08:32 PM.

07-01-2007, 09:06 PM	#3
All-American Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,420	It seems that every suggestion that Lincoln was an atheist is second hand and/or contrived. One article shows that because Lincoln tried to change the word "God" in one speech to "maker", he didn't believe in God. That seems a stretch to me. He does NOT have set, fixed beliefs; that much is apparent. He never joined a church or aligned himself with a particular mode of thought. That leaves him free to think, to wander, and to wonder. But he still seems to believe that SOMETHING is out there. The decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation hints at this as well. Barring something more concrete, I'm inclined to say that if Lincoln worked so hard to get Americans to think he believed in God, we should believe him. __________________ εν αρχη ην ο λογος

07-02-2007, 04:26 AM	#9
Frank Ryan Formerly Mastershake Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 707	Here's an honest Abe quote: "When I do good I feel good. When I do bad I feel bad. That is my religion."

07-02-2007, 02:29 AM	#7
San Juan Sun Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Running the bowel Posts: 21	I read Team of Rivals. Goodwin suggested that Lincoln had shifting views on religion, but expressed belief in Diety throughout his life. She states that it's hard to know exactly what he thought, because he never really put it to paper, despite his voluminous writings.