John Adams’ Shifting Religion
Trying to nail down President John Adams' religious beliefs is like trying to hit a moving target. He was literally all over the religious map. I am still fascinated at reading about people whose religious views change dramatically over a lifetime.
When I was young, I thought religious change in a person was extremely rare, but now I know better. People often shift in their religious thinking. Time allows many factors to influence individuals toward change.
John Adams exemplified religious change. He was raised in the Puritan system, accepting the Bible and the deity of Christ. He claimed to be a devout Christian, and attended church regularly.
Adams quickly began shifting. As an adult, he believed in miracles, and still embraced the Bible, but came to believe institutional Christianity was the source of much suffering in the world. In his old age he maintained that religion was essential for society, but eventually rejected the deity of Jesus, and became what could best be described as a Unitarian Universalist.
When I was young, I thought religious change in a person was extremely rare, but now I know better. People often shift in their religious thinking. Time allows many factors to influence individuals toward change.
John Adams exemplified religious change. He was raised in the Puritan system, accepting the Bible and the deity of Christ. He claimed to be a devout Christian, and attended church regularly.
Adams quickly began shifting. As an adult, he believed in miracles, and still embraced the Bible, but came to believe institutional Christianity was the source of much suffering in the world. In his old age he maintained that religion was essential for society, but eventually rejected the deity of Jesus, and became what could best be described as a Unitarian Universalist.