[Colonel Kangaroo]

I'll take Lincoln's measure of respect for Christianity over that of many of his opponents.

A typical statement of the Gospel according to the Confederacy courtesy of the Maury County Georgia home guard on 6/1/1864:

1st. Resolved. That we invite all ministers of the Gospel who preach among us, to give a lecture on the war, at their earliest convenience, or give their hearers unmistakable evidence that they support the Southern Confederacy.

...Resolved That no more negro preaching be allowed until the war is over. Negroes can hear white men preach if they want to.

Signed Vigilance Committee

[Non-Sequitur]

I suppose that Idabooby is asking us how we can respect a man who constantly asked God's blessing on his cause, but belonged to no religion. Who could not remember if he was ever baptized and who had left the 'churchgoing' to his wife for almost all his adult life. Who didn't turn to religion until faced with crisis while president. Who didn't know much about the Bible and had almost never read it. I suppose that would be a good question since the description I gave is that of Jefferson Davis, as related by William J. Cooper in his biography, "Jefferson Davis: American".

When it comes to personal piety and faith in God, Jefferson Davis could not hold a candle to Abraham Lincoln.

[Idabilly]

“Signed Vigilance Committee”

Negro equality! Fudge! How long, in the government of a God, great enough to make and maintain this Universe, shall there continue knaves to vend, and fools to gulp, so low a piece of demagougism [sp.-DS] as this.
(v. 3, p. 399. Fragments: Notes for Speeches, Sept. 6, 1859)