22 Jan 12
My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures, have become clearer and stronger with advancing years and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them. Abraham Lincoln (To Judge J. S. Wakefield, following Willie Lincoln's death in 1862)
22 Jan 12
Originally posted by 667joewhat makes you believe that the above quote makes lincoln an atheist?
My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures, have become clearer and stronger with advancing years and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them. Abraham Lincoln (To Judge J. S. Wakefield, following Willie Lincoln's death in 1862)
22 Jan 12
Originally posted by 667joeFrom:
What do you think it makes him?
"My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures, have become clearer and stronger with advancing years and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them. Abraham Lincoln (To Judge J. S. Wakefield, following Willie Lincoln's death in 1862)"
we can infer he didn't think the Christian scheme of salvation was sound (i.e. an element of Christian belief) and that he saw scripture as something created by humans. Taking the union of these doesn't rule out the possibility he believed in a variant of Christian god (divorced from at least the salvation element) and that he saw scripture as perhaps an attempt by humans to approximate the god he actually did believe exists.
Consequently, you cannot validly conclude he was an atheist just from the quote you give.
22 Jan 12
Originally posted by 667joethis quote alone is not sufficient to determine what it makes him. it is sufficient to determine that he doubts the christian scheme of salvation. ergo, he was not a christian in the popular sense that people understood to be christianity.
What do you think it makes him?
23 Jan 12
Originally posted by VoidSpirit“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right” A. Lincoln
this quote alone is not sufficient to determine what it makes him. it is sufficient to determine that he doubts the christian scheme of salvation. ergo, he was not a christian in the popular sense that people understood to be christianity.
I doubt President Lincoln was or even now is an Atheist, but people will reach
for whatever they want to prove their points, correct or not.
Kelly
24 Jan 12
1 edit
Originally posted by gambit3posthumous rumors. lincoln wasn't alive at the time to verify or deny those allegations (that he became a christian).
RIP Lincoln 1809-1865. A lot of things happened from 1862 to 1865. I believe lincoln became a Christian before he was killed. As far as I know Lincoln was never an atheist.
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24 Jan 12
Originally posted by gambit3On what basis do you think he "became a Christian" before he was killed?
RIP Lincoln 1809-1865. A lot of things happened from 1862 to 1865. I believe lincoln became a Christian before he was killed. As far as I know Lincoln was never an atheist.
26 Jan 12
Originally posted by KunsooI do not remember what I heard about Lincoln in the early 1990s. It was stated that he became a Christian before the day of his death. I can tell you that I was listening to D. James Kennedy.
On what basis do you think he "became a Christian" before he was killed?