In “Faith in America” [Nov/Dec 2009], Jack Feerick perpetuates the lie that the founders of our country were not “pious, Christian gentlemen.”
I taught history for nearly 18 years and have been a lifelong student of the subject. Here is the truth: 52 of the 55 signers of America’s Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed Christians. The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention. It is the same Congress that formed the American Bible Society. Thomas Jefferson stated on the front of his well-worn Bible: “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unit of our Creator.” He was also the chairman of the American Bible Society, which he considered his highest and most important role. Jefferson often attended midweek services in the Capitol building when he was president.
Please, Saturday Evening Post, stay true to your roots and tell the truth about our history.
Bob,
Hayden, Idaho
2 Comments
Well said, Bob.
It can safely be said that when individuals pick up and read a well known magazine, like the SEP, they expect things to be true. It appears Feerick needs to go back to school and do some serious study of America’s early days. I suggest he visit with David Barton of Wall Builders who has nearly countless documents which show the spiritual positions of our Founding Fathers. One glaring mistake (page 49) was to tag John Scopes of the 1925 Scopes trial at Dayton, Tenn. as a “biology teacher.” Scopes was the gym teacher who, on occasion, would sub for an absent teacher. He was persuaded by local businessmen, prompted by the A.C.L.U., to say he had taught evolution in a class which was, at the time, against Tennessee law. Years later he admitted that he had not taught evolution but by that time it was to late. Truth be known, the trial was based on a lie and was created by Dayton businessmen to bring people to town. It worked but for many years the event has been praised as a victory for teaching evolution. It was a sad thing in American history but Feerick did nothing to correct the story.