It’s also worth noting, when recounting their Christian beliefs, that many of them also weren’t traditional Christians. At least in the same way as many other Colonial Americans of lesser social and economic standing were.
Counting known members of one or more Secret Societies and Masonic orders among their ranks. And suspected members of several more. And surviving writings and personal letters of some of the founders include a fascination with various Occult texts and writings of early occultists. Jefferson himself is reported to have spoke fondly of the founder of the Illuminati Adam Weishaupt on several occasions.
Though to be fair they were Aristocratic Gentlemen or at least the closest thing the American Colonies had to a class of landed Aristocracy. And such fascinations and odd takes on mainstream faith were far from unusual or unexpected for that social and economic rung of society at the time.
It’s also worth noting, when recounting their Christian beliefs, that many of them also weren’t traditional Christians. At least in the same way as many other Colonial Americans of lesser social and economic standing were.
Counting known members of one or more Secret Societies and Masonic orders among their ranks. And suspected members of several more. And surviving writings and personal letters of some of the founders include a fascination with various Occult texts and writings of early occultists. Jefferson himself is reported to have spoke fondly of the founder of the Illuminati Adam Weishaupt on several occasions.
Though to be fair they were Aristocratic Gentlemen or at least the closest thing the American Colonies had to a class of landed Aristocracy. And such fascinations and odd takes on mainstream faith were far from unusual or unexpected for that social and economic rung of society at the time.
Yes, the Freemasonry and Secret societies have me questioning a lot of this. The symbolism in Washington makes me sus.