Examples Of Lincoln's Growing Faith

A Growing Faith

As child to his youth Lincoln was raised in a family of Baptists. Although his parents were strictly religious their son was otherwise non-religious. His parents would attend church Lincoln would not. It was very apparent that he was unlike his parents in their religious fervor. As a young man Lincoln opposed the church, openly showing his disapproval of the church. He read and learned from deists like Thomas Paine, eventually writing his own pamphlet. However, due to repercussions from these beliefs almost lost him a place in Congress, Lincoln became quieter about voicing his thoughts. Lincoln as Preston and Herndon puts it was closer to deism or Universalism, but nothing close to evangelical (Preston, 2012). The religious one belief that he held was in God’s providence, which is the lens that he would view the Civil War with; the idea of the doctrine of necessity. It is interesting to see how little religion had actually influenced Lincoln is his early years in contrast to his presidency. In his first inaugural address besides his attempt to dissuade secession, there were little spiritual notions within his words. The only reference is in his closing with the line “Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust, in the best way, all
The progress of the war was not going well and adding on to that was the greatest personal crisis Lincoln would face. His youngest son Willie Lincoln died from typhoid fever on February 20, 1862. For the Lincoln family Willie held an irreplaceable place in the hearts of his father and mother. With Willie’s death, Lincoln was said to have openly showed his grief and broke down crying. A change came onto Lincoln after his son’s death. It was noted that Lincoln did not show any visible effects in office, but he seemed to be more open to