Customer Reviews

The Founders on Religion: A Book of Quotations

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I agree with the previous reviewer's sound and well-expressed assessment, but only up to a point. This book is skewed in that it includes only certain members of the Revolutionary generation and only certain kinds of quotations from the included members. As to those excluded, Thomas Paine is an astonishing omission. Paine was a central figure in the American Revolution to his time, and his AGE OF REASON is rightly deemed a major statement on religion that deserved closer attention. So, too, Ethan Allen, the leader of the Green Mountain Boys and a founder of Vermont, wrote a book in which he advanced a powerful argument for atheism and freethinking. Even as to the people quoted, Jefferson's rather disturbing comments on Judaism are carefully omitted -- some of the most pungent may be found in THE ADAMS-JEFFERSON LETTERS. All in all, it's a useful book, but not without problems of its own.

There is no question that many of the "Founding Fathers" were people of faith with deep religious convictions who felt the miraculous formation of this country was "guided by Providence." This is seen for one in The Declaration of Independance which references a "guiding higher power" several times. (Yet, the Constitution is silent about the same - go figure). In the search for historical context of such issues, this book serves the need for a reliable source of quotations that covers as wide a range of subject matter in an unbiased manner.

The author is a professional historian with the Library of Congress and former faculty member of Yale and William and Mary Colleges and has scoured many primary sources to assemble this collection of quotes of many key figures in the early formation of this country. Not surprisingly, the overall approach and tone is highly academic with meticulous referencing. Part of the motivation of this new compilation is the author's professional frustration for existing "quote books" on the same topic which, according to him, are riddled in bias and piecemeal scholarship. Maybe, but this book sets a clear tone of historical scholarship according to accepted practices in the field that should be acceptable to people of all persuasions.

It is important to realize this is a book listing quotations and not an analysis, distillation or commentary about them - or as to what they could imply today (for that, Jon Meacham's 2006 book, "American Gospel" is worth reading). The author merely presents the "data" and lets the reader come to his/her own conclusions. As such it is a valuable reference on the topic. What is unique about the organization here is that it is by TOPIC rather than by person being quoted. This allows one to zero-in on topics of most interest. For those most interested in chuch-state issues, several topics will give related quotes: America, American revolution, the Bible, Christianity, Christian nation, Church & State, Constitution, Law, Liberty of conscience, Providence, Freedom of Religion, Social unity of religion. If your interest is in the various faiths (or none) of the founders, topics include Athiesm, Calvinism, Catholicsm, Clergy, Ecumenicism, Creeds, Dieism, Episcopalians, Jesus, Jews, Presbyterians, Quakers, Unitarianism. Other unique topics that reveal some personal perspectives and beliefs are war, women, Islam, slavery, Native Americans, the afterlife, marriage, divorce and reason.

There are a few limitations and challenges to this book. The first is the 18th-century language which can be a bit hard to assimilate. I had to read many quotes several times to get the jist (they seem to like run-on sentences). Second, there is no context given with the quotes (by design to limit the size). As a quote should only be as good as its known context, this is a limitation to further analysis. For example, many readers would want to see the entire context of Jefferson's famous letter to the Danbury Baptist Association where he first used the now-legendary phrase, "a wall of separation." And, as other reviewers note below, not all major figures are represented in the quotes - Thomas Paine for example. Last - and again one of context - is the fact that the views of some being quoted changed as they matured.

You'll find the many of the familiar quotes from Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Jay, Franklin, Dickinson, Rush and others of their faith in God, the belief in "Providence" as well as their views on many social customs and even their presonal struggles. But, as many of the quotes reveal, they also had equally-strong convictions to not impose or coerce others into a "state-mandated religion" - in keeping with the principle of "freedom of conscience" and free will that their beliefs required. This should not be so surprising since, after all, they came to this land from oppressive Europe to be free. To those already familiar with the topic, there should be some new gems the author dug up in more obscure sources that "offer readers a richer and livelier selection of statements about the religion of Founders than is now available." Some of these include several prominent women of that era.

So, in all, this seeems a reliable book that gives "a careful examination of the original documents by a professional historian that provides multiple viewpoints and accurate quotations." As such, it makes a valuable contribution to understanding what were the various personal beliefs of the founders and how they influenced the formation of the United States of America. Lastly, here is one quotation from Jefferson I thought was interesting and revealed how the Founder's beliefs provided a foundation for personal liberty that did not imply the goal of a unified religious society (as some rightly feared then and now). As the book shows, many were of the same mind as Jefferson.

"Almighty God hath created the mind free, and manifested his supreme will that free it shall remain by making it altogether insusceptible of restraint; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, who being lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his almighty power to do, but by extend it by the influence of reason alone." (Thomas Jefferson, A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1777).

James H. Hutson has done anyone who writes or speaks about religion a huge favor. By collecting our founding father's thoughts on more than 70 religious topics, he has offered insight into the extrordinary minds and convictions of the people who founded this country.

Quotations on the after-life, death of loved ones, divorce, child rearing, reliability of biblical texts, Judism and Islam are offered from founders who range from pious to unorthodox.

Calling on the usual -- and even some unusual -- suspects Hutson offers quotations that transcend time. The utterances prove provacative, warm, funny, heartfelt and wise. Hutson even includes quotations from two founding mothers - Martha Washington and Abigal Adams.

Well-researched, highly-usable and often amusing, this book is a must for history lovers and those who just like to think, write or discuss religion.

How can you write "The Founders on Religion", leave Thomas Paine out of the book, and in the same breath say of the book that its "objective as possible and that conforms to the canons of historical scholarship"?

Thomas Paine quite possibly wrote the Declaration of Independence, see Andrew J. Galambos lecture done in 1966(thruthseekers.com) to see if the proof is there. See also "Thomas Paine Author of the Declaration of Independence" by Joseph Lewis. Even without this thought, Thomas Paine should be right up front as one of the key "influential luminaries" of the day.

Why would Elias Boudinot and the "MANY" quotes found in his pamphlet "The Age of Revelations" take precedence over Thomas Paine's work? African Slavery,Common Sense,The Crisis Papers,The Rights of Man,Agrarian Justice.........and of course the very important pamphlet that Boudinot tries to refute with his pamphlet (The Age of Revelations ),"The Age of Reason". All of which talk about God and His providential guidance and can be found online.

Thomas Paine wrote extensively on the 70 topics that Hutson touched upon. The United States of America (he was the first to coin the very phrase) God,Providence,religion,Deism, (imagine only one small paragraph on the subject of Deism) Slavery,Rights,Women,Native Americans,Hell,Islam,War,Quaker...........all of which Thomas Paine wrote reams of information on.

This book was titled "The Founders on Religion" and states that " the book calls to the witness stand all the usual suspects" which is true as yet once again, they've forgotten Thomas Paine. Even though they add "many lesser known but highly influential luminaries" Thomas Paine is almost forgotten?

I say almost forgotten because although he's not even considered as a lesser known influential luminaries figure,he is mentioned in the "sin" section of this book which, not so surprisingly both sentiments cast Thomas Paine in a very bad light.

Is this book really about "The Founders on Religion",or is it a one sided book about a certain religion without necessarily mentioning, at least at first glance, a particular faith that this book, in my opinion is clearly promoting/advocating.

David McCullough thoughts on the back of the book are just some of the many not so subtle proofs that this book is all about one certain religion,and not religion in the true sense of the word, unless of course religion means the faith that again, the author seems to be advocating.

"It should be required reading for everyone who teaches or preaches,for every serious student of religion and the good society, every public servant,indeed for every American who cares about the extraordinary minds and bedrock conviction of those we rightly honor as founders" DM

James H. Hutson states in his preface

"Convinced that the subject,religion and the Founding,deserves better treatment then it has received in the religious quote book genre,I offer a quote book that is as objective as possible and that conforms to the canons of historical scholarship. My expectation is that readers of all religious persuasions-- or of none-- will find the book useful"

I don't feel that this book is "as objective as possible" and I'm sure that none conformist to this faith (as most conservatives understand it) would find anything useful about it. I ask why would it be useful when the book at its core is clearly one sided and should have been titled "The Founders on a certain Religion". Showing only the positive things about this faith and leaving out the many more negative things our Founders said,and actually thought about religion (the religion that this book is actually insinuating) if their political aspirations weren't at steak,or the very real "consequences" that would occur if one did speak negatively about this religion,or this particular faith that this book is again, really all about. Consequences that Thomas Paine knew all too well, yet still had the courage to stand up against its distractive side.

I see that its only volume 1 so maybe James is saving Thomas Paine,and the negative sentiments that our founders had towards this (not) said religion for volume 2 and in this case, be prepared for a much fatter book.

James H. Hutson states in his preface
" Conservative and evangelical readers who consult the book will,I hope,be persuaded that sound scholarship is not their sworn enemy,as many have been led to believe."

I'm sure the author knows that the conservative evangelicals will find sound scholarship with this book,but it seems to me that leaving out key luminaries and only posting the positive things said about one particular faith is a form of "unsound scholarship" rather then "sound scholarship" if this book is actually trying to do what it implies,which is to show the Founders thoughts on religion.

Again why was Thomas Paine left out of this book if indeed it's "as objective as possible",or "sound scholarship"?

Was it because Thomas Paine said things like this
"I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life."

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half of the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we call it the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind."

"What is it the New Testament teaches us? To believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be married; and the belief of this debauchery is called faith."
"I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any Church that I know of. My own mind is my own Church. Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

"The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authority; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion."

All of these sentiments of the many I could give are true in an ever growing society who can now get information at the click of a button. These sentiments in no way slander the true character of our Creator,or "Natures God" as found in the Declaration of Independence.
These sentiments in no way diminish the great love that Thomas Paine had for a providential Creator and the only path of understanding that Paine's religion was all about. These sentiments really don't diminish the importance of these sacred books either, as great allegorical,mythological,poetical,and as inspirational books that can give individuals some real insight on the Creator of all.

The only ones who would find these comments offensive are the people who have the wrong understanding of the Bible,the wrong understanding of the God of the Declaration of Independence,the God of life,Nature, and His laws that govern and regulate the whole.

It could be easily argued that most of the key Founding Fathers agreed with Thomas Paine's above sentiments but again, they were under the political correctness of their time that was underlined by a oppressing theocracy that is slowly disappearing and much less aggressive as the days of these Founders. See the blue laws that are no longer in the law books,but were enforced in our Founders days to get a sense of what I'm saying.

The politicians of old, like today knew not to speak in a negative manner about this religion that this book is all about. In their day one would be feathered and dunked,lose your tongue,and then death for speaking negatively towards the common understanding of this faith,today you just lose votes.

One small paragraph on Deism is a joke with a book of this nature. A Deist,being the belief in a Deity seems to be all about religion and our Founders, especially when you use Thomas Paine's definition of a Deist.

"Every person, of whatever religious denomination he may be, is a DEIST in the first article of his Creed. Deism, from the Latin word Deus, God, is the belief of a God, and this belief is the first article of every man's creed. It is on this article, universally consented to by all mankind, that the Deist builds his church, and here he rests. Whenever we step aside from this article, by mixing it with articles of human invention, we wander into a labyrinth of uncertainty and fable, and become exposed to every kind of imposition by pretenders to revelation." TP

In closing it seems to me that James Hutson, (the Chief of the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress) while demeaning Thomas Paine's character is deliberately leaving Paine out of this book for the purpose of erasing this world hero's memory from our history. Not a good thing to do for a man in his position!

Another slam Thomas Paine book in my opinion.
Some notes of praise for Thomas Paine that will give the reader whose not so familiar with Thomas Paine some insight on what I'm talking about here.

James Monroe
"The crime of ingratitude has not yet stained, and I trust never will stain, our national character. You are considered by them as not only having rendered important service in our own revolution, but as being, on a more extended scale, the friend of human rights, and able advocate of public liberty. To the welfare of Thomas Paine, the Americas are not, nor can they be, indifferent.."

Benjamin Franklin said of Thomas Paine's contribution to our Independence. "I value myself on the share I had in procuring for America the acquisition of so useful and valuable a citizen."

"John Adams, in a letter to his wife, refers to Paine as "a man who, General Lee says, has genius in his eyes."

History is to ascribe the American Revolution to Thomas Paine.
John Adams, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson (22 June 1819)

Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain. John Adams

"I never tire of reading Tom Paine."
Abraham Lincoln

"I consider Paine our greatest political thinker. As we have not advanced, and perhaps never shall advance, beyond the Declaration and Constitution, so Paine has had no successors who extended his principles."
Thomas Alva Edison

THE FOUNDERS ON RELIGION (2005)
edited by John H. Huston

John Huston has assembled a wonderful collection of quotes from the Founders on the subject of religion. Here are these men (and some women!) in their own words on sensitive issues. Many of the quotes are taken from private correspondence and reveal a side of these individuals that was not always publicly known. The quotes are arranged by subject and there is no commentary on the content outside of footnotes and the introduction.

A lot of the time, discussion of the Founders' religious views is framed in a way to promote an agenda. One group states that they were Enlightenment rationalists who scoffed at religious ideas, while another group says that they were all Bible-believers who crafted in a Christian Nation. It is acknowledged that many of these men had differences of opinion when it came to the role of government or the ratification of the Constitution, so why not on religion? The fact is that some of our Founders were extremely devout and others were less inclined to give themselves that label. When they agreed it was never to a perfect degree; it rarely is with intelligent people.

I do agree that the omission on Thomas Paine is quite striking, especially since he was very vocal regarding religious subjects. I am a Christian and I disagree with Paine's own opinions about religion, but it cannot be denied that he was a major intellectual force in early America. That being said, what is here is very good and is presented in a very easy-to-read manner. This is a very useful resource for anybody with even a casual interest in the subject.

The Founders on Religion edited by James H. Hutson is, like most books of quotations, not exactly a book that is fascinating to read straight through from cover to cover. It is more a book that you keep on the shelf to be used as a reference when preparing correspondence, a talk, or a blog entry on a particular topic. To that end, Hutson has simplified matters by categorizing the quotations by topic instead of by Founding Father. The drawback of such a sort is that you do not see the philosophy of any of the Founding Fathers. You could, on the basis of many of Thomas Jefferson's quotes for instance, consider him a devoutly religious man. Other quotations wherein he details his "picking and chosing" of bible selections, literally cutting some verses out of his bible while keeping others, indicates that his religion was one-of-a-kind. You also cannot see the changes in a particular person's viewpoint through their lifetime or to particular politically charged situations. We certainly see the politicians of our day emphasize different beliefs to fit the situation and there is no reason to think it was otherwise 200 years ago.

One of the things I found exceedingly interesting was how many of the ideas and beliefs that I had assumed were new and fundamental to the newly organized Mormon church in 1830 were, in fact, very much the topics of the day in the early 1800's. These were such things as the end of the world, the restoration of Israel, the return of the Ten Lost Tribes, and the origin of the American Indian. Growing up, Joseph Smith could have even heard discussions of these topics from John Adams himself, an idea I had never considered.

This book, although only mildly slanted in favor of Christianity and godly belief, is not comprehensive. It would be a useful addition to a reference bookshelf but certainly wouldn't be my first choice for Founding Fathers' quotes.