George Washington and God

In our 6-2 class on George Washington, Dan mentioned the following thoughts about Washington on God:

•Washington was Never a religious man, the idea of a hereafter struck him as an unfathomable mystery.

•Washington thought of God as a distant, impersonal force, the presumed wellspring for what is called destiny or providence.

*At Washington’s Death Bed–There are no ministers in the room, no prayers uttered, no Christian rituals.

One of our listeners (Thanks to NDE99 for providing us this 2nd opinion on Washington) believed that the information provided wasn’t exactly correct and provided the following information from David Barton of WallBuilders who argues that there is substantial evidence that George Washington believed in God and prayed, although historians disagree about how specifically Christian Washington’s beliefs were Here is what Barton says:

1. Washington’s Public Proclamations Calling for Prayer

Barton frequently points to Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation, in which Washington called on Americans to thank and pray to God:

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Barton argues that language like this demonstrates that Washington believed in a personal God who intervenes in human affairs.

2. Washington’s National Days of Prayer and Fasting

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3. References to Divine Providence

Smithsonian Magazine)

4. The Continental Congress Prayer Meetings

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5. The Valley Forge Prayer Story

People For)

6. Washington’s Church Membership

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What historians generally agree on

Most historians agree that:

• Washington believed in some form of God or Providence.
• Washington frequently used religious language.
• Washington publicly encouraged prayer and thanksgiving.
• Washington attended church regularly.

Where historians disagree is whether Washington was:

• an orthodox Christian,
• a broadly Christian believer with unorthodox views,
• Smithsonian Magazine)

So if the question is “What evidence does David Barton use to argue that Washington believed in God and prayed?”, the strongest pieces are Washington’s own proclamations, his calls for national prayer, his references to Providence, his church involvement, and the Valley Forge tradition. The first four rely on primary historical documents; the Valley Forge story is much more disputed.