tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post4706079542892410279..comments2024-03-28T10:44:30.518-06:00Comments on American Creation: Daniel Dreishbach on GW's approach to ReligionBrad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-70104056727038254952016-02-22T01:51:02.466-07:002016-02-22T01:51:02.466-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.74564hghhjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12833666353596465299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-10201622833129158882016-02-18T15:22:28.172-07:002016-02-18T15:22:28.172-07:00Best to leave 'em guessing. Again, the specte...Best to leave 'em guessing. Again, the specter not of religion, but of sectarianism. John Adams:<br /><br />6. He blamed a day of fasting for his reelection defeat.<br />In both 1798 and 1799, Adams issued presidential proclamations calling for national days of “solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer.” In an 1812 letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, Adams wrote, “The National Fast, recommended by me turned me out of office.” Adams argued in the letter that “nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion,” and he <b>believed that his call for a fast day had become incorrectly viewed as the promotion of the Presbyterian Church (of which Adams was not a member) as a national religion, which caused an electoral backlash.</b> Blaming defeat on a proclamation might seem far-fetched, but as David McCullough pointed out in his Adams biography, a swing of only 250 votes in New York City would have resulted in the president’s reelection.Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.com