Religious Freedom Archive

Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, December 25, 1813

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams December 25, 1813 Though praising Christianity, Adams also finds much that he likes in Eastern religions. Joseph Priestley was a leading scientist and theologian, who helped found Unitarianism. Answer my letter at your leisure. Give yourself no concern. I write as a refuge and protection against ennui. The fundamental principle of all philosophy and all Christianity is, “Rejoice always in all things.” “Be thankful at all times for all good, and all that we call evil.” Will it…

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Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, December 12, 1816

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams December 12, 1816 Adams summarizes his religious creed in four words: “Be just and good.” return the Analysis of Dupuis, with my thanks for the loan of it. It is but a faint miniature of the original. I have read that original in twelve volumes, besides a thirteenth of plates. I have been a lover and a reader of romances all my life, from Don Quixote and Gil Bias to the Scottish Chiefs, and a hundred others. For…

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Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, November 4, 1816

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams November 4, 1816 Adams suggests that before we promote the Bible in the rest of the world, we should fix Christianity’s problems. Your letter of October 14th has greatly obliged me. Tracy’s Analysis I have read once, and wish to read it a second time. It shall be returned to you; but I wish to be informed whether this gentleman is one of that family of Tracys with which the Marquis Lafayette is connected by intermarriages. I have…

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Letter from John Adams to Samuel Miller, July 8, 1820

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams July 8, 1820 Toward the end of his life he recounts his religious explorations and concludes, “I believe with Justin Martyr, that all good men are Christians.” You know not the gratification you have given me by your kind, frank, and candid letter. I must be a very unnatural son to entertain any prejudices against the Calvinists, or Calvinism, according to your confession of faith; for my father and mother, my uncles and aunts, and all my predecessors,…

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Letter from John Adams to Benjamin Rush, January 21, 1810

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams January 21, 1810 Adams declares God to be “the first good, first perfect, and first fair” and defines Christianity to include all Christian denominations. [Thomas Paine’s] political writings, I am singular enough to believe, have done more harm than his irreligious ones. He understood neither government nor religion. From a malignant heart he wrote virulent declamations, which the enthusiastic fury of the times intimidated all men, even Mr. Burke, from answering as he ought. His deism, as it…

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Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, October 29, 1775

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams October 29, 1775 Unlike Madison and Jefferson, Adams for many years believed that taxpayer support of religion – the approach taken in New England – was a good idea. There is, in the human Breast, a social Affection, which extends to our whole Species. Faintly indeed; but in some degree. The Nation, Kingdom, or Community to which We belong is embraced by it more vigorously. It is stronger still towards the Province to which we belong, and in…

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Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, November 18, 1775

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams November 18, 1775 November 18. 1775 Your kind Letter of the 5th. Inst. came to Hand yesterday by Captain McPherson. I admire your skill in Phisiognomy, and your Talent at drawing Characters, as well as that of your Friend Marcia from whom at the same Time I received several important Characters, which you shall one day see. I agree with you in your sentiments that there is Reason to be diffident of a Man who grossly violates the…

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Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, September 16, 1774

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams September 16, 1774 Early in the Continental Congress, it was proposed that the delegates begin the day in prayer. Some members objected since there were now so many different denominations represented. How could they find someone who could represent them all? Sam Adams (not known for his religious tolerance), broke the logjam by saying that even though he was Congregationalist, he could accept an Episcopalian preacher. His cousin, John Adams, recounts the scene. Having a Leisure Moment, while…

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Diary of John Adams, November 30, 1804

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams November 30, 1804 Adams explains how a controversy over a preacher drove him away from choosing the ministry as a career. Bryant had been driven away as a minister for promoting the idea that good works could influence salvation. Between the Years 1751 when I entered, and 1754 [i.e. 1755] when I left Colledge a Controversy was carried on between Mr. Bryant the Minister of our Parish and some of his People, partly on Account of his Principles…

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Diary of John Adams, March 07, 1756

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams March 7, 1756 Adams believes in a free market of religious ideas, in which the best ones emerge from an open discussion. Heard Mr. Maccarty all day. Spent the Evening and supped at Mr. Greenes, with Thayer. Honesty, Sincerity and openness, I esteem essential marks of a good mind. I am therefore of opinion, that men ought, (after they have examined with unbiassed judgments, every System of Religion, and chosen one System on their own Authority, for themselves)…

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