The Story Behind the Lincoln Bible at Obama's Inauguration
Reader Comments
Ironic-redux
"The Lincoln Bible" was given to him by Thomas Carroll, the Clerk of the Supreme Court, most likely because the Lincoln's household, including his family Bible, was on a train en route from Springfield to Washington at the time of the Inauguration. The Bible is more accurately described as a gift, it was kept in the family until Lincoln's daughter-in-law bequeathed it to the Library of Congress upon her death in 1926.
Lincoln a Deist among many
The majority of our early American Fathers and writers of our Constitution were deist, not belonging to one organized religion but had a firm belief in one Creator. That is why it was declared that there be a separation of church and state as to not repeat the mistakes made by countries that promoted one religion over another and have forced missionaries lurking around for new members and thus, reducing people that do not believe in your religious ethics ending up being in a second class citizen like you find in Sudan now, were Christians are being forced to convert to Islam to survive, or Coptic Christians being forced out of Egypt, or the Orthodox Church in Turkey not able to have their own leader or a return of the various churches that were converted to mosques. In northern Ireland, just look at the fighting between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists all have missionaries that use religion in vsrious ways to lure today, unsuspecting youth with promises of food, education and jobs to get a foothold in various countries and communities. It is ironic, that the people of many colors that profess religious Judaism, do not have missionaries because they believe as our early American Fathers, that all righteous have a share in the world to come regardless of the road you follow in the way of religious ethics. Perhaps this would a global way of reaching out to those that are different but want a eco-friendly, healthy and peaceful world also. Note: President Lincoln was the only president to declare Marshall law. Another fact, Lincoln before his death wanted to send the slaves back to their original homeland. Wasn't this tried a few years back with horrible results?
Lincoln's Christianity
Not to abuse our good friend Maury, but Lincoln was very much a Christian. Perhaps, not an Orthodox Christian, as he was unbaptised, but he was positively a Christian as all Lincoln biographers and scientists will attest to.
"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 our present difficulty." -- President Abraham Lincoln
Ironic
I find it ironic that they call this the "Lincoln Bible". Lincoln never claimed to be a member of any particular religion and in fact stated, "Christianity is not my religion and the bible is not my book." The fact that it was a loaner to him makes perfect sense.
Lincoln was most likely a deist, not a christian. Heck, he even wrote pamphlets pointing out the fallacy of many points in the bible...
To quote honest Abe: "When I do good, I feel good and when I do bad, I feel bad - That is my religion."
Living history
We are history. We join our fellows from the time of Lincoln, all the notables and unknowns, to take our turn be history. My ancestors participated in the Civil War, now we continue living the emancipation.
How appropriate that the Bible used by Lincoln should be used again on a day recognized around the world as an ongoing fulfillment of the promise of this this country.
Be in prayer to the God of the Bible to protect our incoming President and heal our land.
