E Pluribus Unum

Thanks David.  You have done a great public service by sharing this!  Mary_C

Yes, our founding fathers did not believe in God the way most Evangelicals would like to claim… at least in my opinion… I am always interested in truth too-so keep us informed…

I watched a program on the History channel (I believe) that addressed these facts.  It's been some time ago. 

Of note also (probably more so to me as Unitarian Universalist) is that both John Adams and Benjamin Franklin attended, at various points in their lives (without membership) the Unitarian church.  Were they referring only to a Christian God?  I would beg to differ.

This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin - courtesy of the UUA, where I knew I could find it, in the last year of his life.

“I believe in one God, creator of the Universe. That he governs it in his providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we can render to Him is doing good to his other Children. That the soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental Principles of all sound Religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever Sect I meet with them.

As to Jesus of Nazareth, I think the System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend that it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his Divinity; tho' it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble.

I shall only add, respecting myself, that, having experienced the Goodness of that Being in conducting me prosperously thro' a long life, I have no doubt of its Continuance in the next, though without the smallest Conceit of meriting such Goodness.”