FAITH OF THE FOUNDERS: Samuel Adams on the Crucial Importance of Faith
(1:30-SECOND READ) — Samuel Adams is best known, where he is known at all among the general populace of Americans these days, as one of the earliest proponents of the American Revolution against England’s King George III.
Adams was a founder of the Sons of Liberty group, but he was much more than a mere political revolutionary and a distant cousin of the man who would become the second President of the United States.
Samuel Adams.
He was also active in promoting newspaper accounts of British outrages and stating the revolutionaries’ case on multiple issues.
During the Revolution, he was a member of the Continental Congress, a drafter of the Articles of Confederation, and subsequently was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate and that state’s governor.
Adams uses the word “virtue” in the following quote and elsewhere in his writings as a kind of shorthand for the values of Christianity, especially religious freedom and the Golden Rule. Credit to Mark Strand for the following Adams quote:
“A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.” – Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren – February 12, 1779
Quotes reprinted in HillFaith’s “The Faith of The Founders” posts are compiled from Benjamin F. Morris’ classic work, “The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States.” Morris, an historian and pastor, published the first edition more than a century ago.
Quotations are also compiled from Mark Strand, author of the Daily Inspirations email he shares on request here and that HillFaith highly recommends to Hill aides.
Mark was for 16 years President of the Congressional Institute, and he is a former fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics. He was also a 24-year veteran congressional staffer, including four years as Chief of Staff to Sen. James Talent (R-Missouri).
and yet again, curious how the founding fathers intentionally ignored your religoin when they set up the United States.
What I find curious, clubschadenfreude, is how folks like you just can’t resist the urge to sarcasm. You are free to think whatever you think, but how about putting a lid on it? Keep it civil and you will be far more likely to be taken seriously by those who have different views. Who knows, they might even learn something from you!
Mark, nice of you to show how you can’t show I’m wrong. You persist in your lies that the US was founded as a christain country and alas, facts show you are wrong.
There is nothing uncivil about pointing out how your lies fail, Mark. You just don’t like it.
Well, have it your way, clubschadenfreude, have it your way! 🙂
What are you talking about? Have you never recited the Pledge of Allegiance, “one nation under God”? “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This is a direct quote from the Declaration of Independence, one of the most important documents in US history! I’m in middle school and I know this! You might want to fact check yourself clubschadenfreude, or you’ll end up looking less intelligent than you are.
I’m in in middle school and I know that! you should probably fact check your information before saying anything, clubschadenfreude.