10. Lincoln’s religious beliefs remain in question 150 years after his death
Abraham Lincoln’s knowledge of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, was comprehensive. It was one of the books from which he learned to read in his youth, and he read it while living in the environment of a devout Baptist community, utterly intolerant of any dissenting view. After growing up in such an atmosphere, part of the Great Awakening, Lincoln settled in the community of New Salem at a time when it had a tavern (which did a brisk business) but no churches. He did not seem to miss one. Throughout his life Lincoln never joined any church, nor attend services on a regular basis (other than escorting his Presbyterian wife to services as president, which she viewed as a social event). According to Lincoln’s longtime friend Jesse Fell, it was a topic Lincoln seldom addressed in conversation, and when he did it was with the expression of doubt, rather than devout piety. He was particularly questioning on the subject of divine intercession through miracles.
When Lincoln ran for Congress in 1846 his opponent Peter Cartwright, an evangelist, accused him of being an “infidel”. Lincoln responded with a handbill, in which he agreed that he was not a member of any church, but that “I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general…” In a later debate, Cartwright posed the question to Lincoln of whether his opponent had the intention of going to either heaven or hell, stating that he had expressed no interest in going to either via his religious views, and demanding to know where he intended to go. Lincoln’s answer was, “I did not come here with the idea of being singled out, but since you ask, I will reply with equal candor. I intend to go Congress”.