Summary Of Weems's View Of Religion

Weems remarks in his biography of Washington that he was quite the religious man. While much of what Weems writes is true, he often embellishes on the truth for effect. This can often make his claims seem outlandish. So for as much as Weems talks about religion, it is hard to grasp whether what Weems portrays is the truth or is simply embellished upon. To this end looking at other primary sources from the time seemed to be the best way to go about determining the true nature of Washington since Washington rarely brought up religion himself. To start it is best to understand Weems’ position on the subject of Washington’s religious tendencies, then from there looking at how Weems’ disposition compares to that of other sources of the time. From
He stated “The path of true piety is too plain to want any political direction”10 I believe that what Washington was attempting to say here is akin to stating that religion and politics ought to be separate. Stating that piety is too plain to want any political direction is to state that the action of a truly pious person should not be swayed or manipulated by political agenda. This seems to fall in line with what it seems most of the founding father believed when they created the constitution creating a separation of church and state. Another example of this belief in separating the religious side of the country and the political side is seenim in a letter Washington received from Winfield Scott general in the US army and presidential candidate. “I am happy to see, by the Philadelphia Native American, that religion is to be excluded as a party element. Staunch Protestant as I am, both by birth and conviction, I shall never consent to a party or state religion. Religion is too sacred to be mingled up with either.”11 This letter that is a response to one sent by Washington reaffirms my theory on Washington’s quote mentioned earlier. Winfield I feel better articulates the feelings that Washington shows in his quote. More importantly, I feel this
Weather he was a man made by God that appears to be what many seem to think, for such a perfect man full of virtues and full of love could never come from random chance. Or whether you see Washington simply as someone who was raised on the teachings of God to love other and do good by them so that they may do good by him. It seems that truly Washington was a rather religious man and led by the moral teachings that he learned. He was so a man to love his God and his religion that he felt not to sully it so with the complications of politics and as such saw fit to keep them separate for one to collide with another would simply cause damage to both. But I can conclusively say that many agree with Weems that religion played an important life in Washington’s life and may very well have led him to be the man he became. Also what seemed quite surprising to me was the focus of so many of these documents to reference Washington’s virtues and their connection to God. It seems that while Weems’ writing now seems over the top often on the fictional side that during the time of its publication, it was much more in line with the thinking of the public than I had first imagined and I now understand better the social setting where Weems writes of invisible hands and many may take that to a more serious