The Faith of our Founding Fathers

Signers of the Constitutional Convention (55 delegates) – the core group of men whose religious sentiments shaped the foundations of our nation: 28 Episcopalians, 8 Presbyterians, 7 Congregationalists, 2 Lutherans, 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Methodists, 2 Roman Catholics, 1 unknown, and 3 deists.  (93% members of Christian churches)

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.  – John Jay, First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

“Whosoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.”
– Benjamin Franklin

Without moral a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure . . . are undermining the solid foundations of morals, the best security for the duration of a free government.  – Charles Carrol, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper, but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no nan can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.  – Daniel Webster

The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.  – Patrick Henry

We recognize no sovereign but God and no king but Jesus!  - John Hancock and John Adams

The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. . . . I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.  – John Adams, Second President

That book, sir, [the Bible] is the rock on which our republic rests.  – Andrew Jackson [not a Founding Father]

The first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention is the Bible.  I speak as a man of the world . . . and I say to you, “Search the Scriptures.”  - John Quincy Adams

“I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make us better citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson

 “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”– John Quincy Adams

"Why is it that next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [July 4th]? . . . Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? That it laid the corner stone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity, and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies, announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets six hundred years before?" - John Quincy Adams

For an explanation of some of these quotations, see this article by David Barton.