On President's Day, and more specifically recognizing George Washington's birthday this week, I thought these words from his Farewell Address were an interesting admonition, given the more aggressive arguments lately that Christianity is dangerous in politics:
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity...And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
The recently published Sacred Fire is, to say the least, a thorough investigation of Washington's faith. The appendixes alone are the length of a book providing thorough primary source documentation to support the argument of the book.
