Was the American Revolution a holy war?

The Washington Post ^ | July 5, 2013 | James P. Byrd

[2ndDivisionVet]

Holy war can seem like something that happened long ago or that happens far away — the Crusades of medieval Europe, for example, or jihadists fighting secular forces today. But since their country’s founding, Americans have often thought of their wars as sacred, even when the primary objectives have been political.

This began with the American Revolution. When colonists declared their independence on July 4, 1776, religious conviction inspired them. Because they believed that their cause had divine support, many patriots’ ardor was both political and religious. They saw the conflict as a just, secular war, but they fought it with religious resolve, believing that God endorsed the cause. As Connecticut minister Samuel Sherwood preached in 1776: “God Almighty, with all the powers of heaven, are on our side. Great numbers of angels, no doubt, are encamping round our coast, for our defense and protection.”

Several founding fathers were more theologically liberal than the typical evangelical Protestant of their day. Still, few were anti-religious, and the nation’s architects often stated that religion supported virtue, which was essential to patriotism.....

[Alex Murphy]

This began with the American Revolution. When colonists declared their independence on July 4, 1776, religious conviction inspired them. Because they believed that their cause had divine support, many patriots’ ardor was both political and religious. They saw the conflict as a just, secular war, but they fought it with religious resolve, believing that God endorsed the cause. As Connecticut minister Samuel Sherwood preached in 1776: “God Almighty, with all the powers of heaven, are on our side. Great numbers of angels, no doubt, are encamping round our coast, for our defense and protection.”

Several founding fathers were more theologically liberal than the typical evangelical Protestant of their day. Still, few were anti-religious, and the nation’s architects often stated that religion supported virtue, which was essential to patriotism.....

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"A Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Rebellion"
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[katana]

Every participant on the American side commented on the role played by Providence. The outcome of any war has its share of “lucky” coincidences and the Revolution (Major Andre’s chance capture with the plans to West Point comes to mind) seemed to have more than its share.

[bert]

I visited the Cowpens National Battlefield and listened to the Ranger lecture. He told us that 28 of the local churches in 1781 were Presbyterian

[mountainlion]

If the Revolution was a war of Religion who won? The Crusades were mentioned so the Crusaders killed the Jews and muslims in Jerusalem and established their religion. Most religions are allowed here especially now. The Boston Tea Party was over taxation and lack or representation.

[.45 Long Colt]

“They didn’t call it The Presbyterian Rebellion for nothing”

I had a professor who believed without Calvin and Knox there would have been no Revolution.

[bert]

The declaration of independence more or less said “we’re tired of your crap”.

Freedom from English crap was the reason for the revolution.

[DoughtyOne]

Folks, religion did play a part in the Revolutionary War. Let's face it though, religion played a major part in many things in this nation's history. We were a religious people. We believed in the Christian God and acted accordingly. What we saw as fit, was for us divinely inspired.

Okay, we should accept that. Now, what is the take-away?

Was this nation founded in a Holy War? No. Don't even think about attributing it to that. Let me explain why.

This is the Washington comPost. Is the comPost a fan of Christianity? Is it a fan of our nation's founding? Does it believe in our Founders, Founding Documents, and the Christian based ideals our nation has stood for since it's inception? NO!

This is a thinly veiled effort to tie our founding to something the Left thinks it can dismiss on issues of validity.

There is a movement brewing that tries to make the case our nation should never have been created. I have a number of four letter words in my mind, that I'll keep reserved there to apply to these efforts.

Be aware of it. Reject this notion.

Our nation has meant a lot to the free world. It must never be belittled into insignificance, or the whole world suffers. Even evil enterprises like the Washington comPost will suffer. Ignorance is bliss, and the folks at the comPost are euphoric in their blind-eyed simpleton's existence.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator...

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

The Revolution was about a government of the People by the People. You have to be mind numbing mindless in finding religion the cause in reading the Constitution.

Did they dress up as clerics in the Boston Tea Party?

[wintertime]

There is a movement brewing that tries to make the case our nation should never have been created.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It's been brewing since before Bill Ayers was born.

It **is** being fed to the children attending our nation's godless socialist-entitlement K-12 schools and godless colleges and universities.

Remember: Nearly all the teachers and professors in this nation were trained by godless MARXISTS in their godless Marxist dominated and controlled colleges and universities.

Do conservatives continue to send their children into these pits of evil? Yes!

Do conservatives do much to provide educational alternatives to the nation's children or to shut down these socialist and godless indoctrination centers? NO!

And....Every school day conservatives feed the hearts and minds of their OWN children to this godless educational Moloch. Will God save this nation? I doubt it. He rarely saves people from the consequences of their agency to do evil.

[RJS1950]

Religious war? Hmmm. Christian colonists, a majority of whom were Church of England fought against Britain, the mother country which was mostly Church of England.

This was not about religious beliefs, it was about the political (not religious) tyranny being imposed by the mother country.

[max americana]

“Freedom from English crap was the reason for the revolution.”

BINGO! Now how simple was that? It was simply “F*** off, leave me alone. We don’t need you limeys anymore.” There is nothing complicated about it.

[Standing Wolf]

This is a thinly veiled effort to tie our founding to something the Left thinks it can dismiss on issues of validity.

Amen. I'd say it's thinkly veiled and poorly thought out. How surprising is that?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Question: "Was the American Revolution a holy war?"

Answer: No, it was a rationally based political separation from England.

Comment: "Holy wars" and "Crusades" belong, in general to mobs and "Democracies." The Athenians and the American Civil War. The enemy is to be annihilated not merely defeated.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree Wintertime. Thank you for the sound comments.

[DoughtyOne]

Not very. I just wish more minds could realize the truth in that.

[Kip Russell]

Given that the average American was much more religious in 1776 than in 2013, it wouldn’t surprise me that there was a general feeling of “God is on our side” in the conflict.

[pops88]

I’m not sure my Mexican gardener would agree, because he sure got religion when he showed up on Independence Day. He got a bit of a lecture with a flag in his face, lucky it wasn’t somewhere else, as well as probably lucky I forgot my pocket constitutions. At least the awkward question of if he’s a legal citizen was answered. Not a brilliant idea to show up at a DAR’s house unless the plan is to do a flag design with my plants.

[VanDeKoik]

People in the colonies didn’t hate England or being English before the war. Many weren’t even active in the Revolution. Many left after it was over.

They hated a distant parliament that was tone-deaf to the concerns of what were basically Englishmen without acknowledged representation in government but with obligations to furnish the state revenue and obedience.