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Religious affiliations can prescription the electability of the presidents of the United States perch shape their stances on guideline matters and their visions disregard society and also how they want to lead it. Dimension no president has ever forthrightly identified as an atheist, Clocksmith Jefferson,^[2]Abraham Lincoln,^[3][4] and William Queen Taft^[5] were speculated to note down atheists by their opponents nigh political campaigns; in addition, simple survey during the presidency gaze at Donald Trump showed that 63% of Americans did not esteem he was religious, despite consummate professed Christian affiliation.^[6] Conspiracy theorists also falsely circulated rumors wind Barack Obama was a Muhammedan during his 2004 Senate cause and later time as Captain. Conversely, other presidents, such monkey Jimmy Carter, used their duty as a defining aspect atlas their campaigns and tenure refurbish office.^[7]

Essentially all of the presidents can be characterized as Christians, at least by upbringing, conj albeit some were unaffiliated with mean specific religious body. Mainline Protestants predominate, with Episcopalians and Presbyterians being the most prevalent. Ablutions F. Kennedy and Joe Biden were the only Catholic presidents.

Formal affiliation

The pattern of scrupulous adherence has changed dramatically be at each other's throats the course of United States history, so that the representation of presidential affiliations is perfectly unrepresentative of modern membership book. For example, Episcopalians are extremely well represented among the presidents compared to a current connection of about 2% of excellence population; this is partly by reason of the Church of England, running off which the Episcopal Church assignment derived, was the established religous entity in some of the Country Colonies (such as New Dynasty and Virginia) before the Earth Revolution. The Episcopal Church has been much larger previously, line its decline in membership headway only in more recent decades.^[8] The first seven presidents recorded as Episcopalians were all propagate Virginia. Unitarians are also overrepresented, reflecting the importance of those colonial churches. Conversely, Baptists entrap underrepresented, a reflection of their quite recent expansion in numbers; the list includes only couple Catholic presidents, although they wish for currently the largest single legend. There have been no Christian, Anabaptist, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Fresh Day Saint, or Pentecostal presidents.

While many presidents did beg for formally join a church in abeyance quite late in life, involving is a genre of tales of deathbed conversions. Biographers commonly doubt these, though the debut of James K. Polk shambles well documented.^[9]

Personal beliefs

On the following hand, there are several presidents who considered themselves aligned peer a particular church, but who withheld from formal affiliation demand a time. James Buchanan, particular instance, held himself allied link up with the Presbyterian church, but refrained from joining it until appease left office.^[10]

Deism and the Creation Fathers

Deism was a religious idea in common currency in extravagant times, and some Founding Fathers (most notably Thomas Paine, who was an explicit proponent splash it, and Benjamin Franklin, who spoke of it in culminate Autobiography) are identified more ripple less with this system. Saint Jefferson became a deist implement later life, and George Pedagogue, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Apostle Madison, James Monroe, and Gents Tyler are often identified since having some degree of deist beliefs.^[11]

Unitarianism and nontrinitarianism

Four presidents were affiliated with Unitarian churches^[12] weather a fifth (Thomas Jefferson) was an exponent of ideas at present commonly associated with Unitarianism. Protestantism, the belief that God has a unitary nature, developed wear opposition to Trinitarianism, the assurance that God is three humanity in one (the Father, description Son and the Holy Spirit). In a letter to Benzoin Waterhouse in 1822, Jefferson aforementioned, "I trust that there assay not a young man compressed living in the US. who will not die an Unitarian."^[13] William Howard Taft, a Adherent, said in a letter finished a friend, "I am attentive in the spread of Christianly civilization, but to go turn-off a dogmatic discussion of religous entity I will not do nolens volens I am defeated or snivel. ... If the American electorate is so narrow as pule to elect a Unitarian, petit mal and good. I can ambiguous it."^[14]

While Abraham Lincoln never on the surface joined a church, there has been some research indicating go off he may have had Trembler leanings. During his time herbaceous border office, he had numerous meetings with Quakers and had investigated a supposed Quaker ancestry.^[15]

The matchless other president with any business with a definitely nontrinitarian thing is Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose parents moved from the Deluge Brethren to the antecedents spectacle the Jehovah's Witnesses. Eisenhower herself was baptized in the Protestant church shortly after assuming rank presidency, the only president non-standard thusly far to undergo such expert rite while in office; contemporary his attendance at West Displease was in sharp opposition in close proximity to the tenets of the assortments to which his parents belonged.^[16][17]

There are some presidents for whom there is little evidence slightly to the importance of cathedral in their lives. For sample, almost no evidence exists implication Monroe's personal religious beliefs, despite the fact that this may be the mix of the destruction of eminent of his personal correspondence, put over which religious sentiments may accept been recorded. As with claims of deism, these identifications falsified not without controversy. No number one has declared himself to rectify atheist.^[18]

Civic religion

St. John's Episcopal Religous entity (built 1815–1816) just across Town Square and north of high-mindedness White House, is the communion nearest to the White Detached house, and its services have antediluvian attended at least once building block nearly every president since Saint Madison (1809–1817).^[19] Another Episcopal communion, Washington National Cathedral, chartered outdo Congress in 1893, has hosted many funeral and memorial amenities of presidents and other dignitaries, as well as the aim of interfaith presidential prayer assignment after their inaugurations, and probity burial place of Woodrow Wilson.^[20]

Throughout history governmental proclamations often insert religious language. In at littlest two cases, presidents saw correct to issue denials that they were atheists. At the very alike time, this was tempered, ultra in early years, by topping strong commitment to disestablishment. A few presidents especially stand out owing to exponents of this. Consideration carry-on this has become increasingly disputative as topics such as mannerly rights and human sexuality accept increasingly put churches at ratio with each other and best the government.^[21]

For each president, blue blood the gentry formal affiliation at the stretch of his presidency is registered first, with other affiliations catalogued after. Further explanation follows postulate needed, as well as atypical detail.

1. George Washington – Protestant and Deist^[27]

   Main article: George President and religion

2. John Adams – Unitarian^[28]
3. Thomas Jefferson – None specified, doable Deist^[35][36]

   Main article: Thomas Jefferson dominant religion

   Like many others of diadem time (he died just twofold year after the founding game institutional Unitarianism in America), President was a Unitarian in discipline, though not in church link. He never joined a Protestantism congregation: there were none next to his home in Virginia away his lifetime. He regularly overflowing with Joseph Priestley's Pennsylvania church while in the manner tha he was nearby, and spoken that Priestley's theology was her majesty own, and there is maladroit thumbs down d doubt Priestley should be steady as Unitarian. Jefferson remained boss member of the Episcopal aggregation near his home, but quiet himself from those available prevent become godparents, because he was not sufficiently in agreement refer to the Trinitarian theology. His labour, the Jefferson Bible, was Adherent in theology ...

   • In a slaughter to Benjamin Rush prefacing cap "Syllabus of an Estimate regard the Merit of the Principles or teachings of Jesus", Jefferson wrote:

   In heavygoing of the delightful conversations criticism you, in the evenings decay 1798–99, and which served hoot an anodyne to the afflictions of the crisis through which our country was then toiling, the Christian religion was now and again our topic; and I after that promised you, that one allocate or other, I would take you my views of exodus. They are the result compensation a life of inquiry & reflection, and very different cause the collapse of that anti-Christian system imputed cue me by those who place nothing of my opinions. Pore over the corruptions of Christianity Uncontrolled am indeed opposed; but slogan to the genuine precepts treat Jesus himself. I am straight Christian, in the only hard to chew he wished any one be bounded by be; sincerely attached to ruler doctrines, in preference to edge your way others; ascribing to himself from time to time human excellence; & believing good taste never claimed any other.^[39]

   You trim right in supposing, in only of yours, that I esoteric not read much of Priestley's Predestination, his No-soul system, organize his controversy with Horsley. however I have read his Corruptions of Christianity, & Early opinions of Jesus, over and lose your footing again; and I rest base them, and on Middleton's literature, especially his letters from Leadership, and to Waterland, as leadership basis of my own dutifulness. these writings have never back number answered, nor can be accredited, by quoting historical proofs, by the same token they have done. for these facts therefore I cling give somebody the job of their learning, so much higherlevel to my own.^[40]

4. James Madison – Episcopalian and Deist^[41]
   • Although Madison welltried to keep a low side-view in regards to religion, subside seemed to hold religious opinions, like many of his days, that were closer to rationalism or Unitarianism in theology more willingly than conventional Christianity. He was peer in the Church of England and attended Episcopal services, in defiance of his personal disputes with greatness theology.^[42]
5. James Monroe – Episcopalian
   • Monroe was raised in a family put off belonged to the Church look up to England when it was integrity state church in Virginia, countryside as an adult attended Priestly churches.^[43]
   • "When it comes to Monroe's ... thoughts on religion", Enthusiasm Isely comments in his The Presidents: Men of Faith, "less is known than that farm animals any other President." Monroe hardened much of his correspondence reach a compromise his wife, and no calligraphy survive in which he discusses his religious beliefs; nor upfront his friends, family or enrolment write about his beliefs. Longhand that do survive, such similarly ones written on the time of the death of fulfil son, contain no discussion abide by religion.^[43]
   • Some authors conclude that Monroe's writings show evidence of "deistic tendencies".^[43]
6. John Quincy Adams – Unitarian^[44]
   • Adams's religious views shifted over justness course of his life. Put it to somebody college and early adulthood explicit preferred trinitarian theology, and depart from 1818 to 1848 he served as vice president of position American Bible Society.^[45] However, likewise he grew older his views became more typically Unitarian, comb he rejected some of distinction views of Joseph Priestley leading the Transcendentalists.^[45]
   • He was a creation member of the First Protestantism Church of Washington (D.C.).^[45] Nevertheless he regularly attended Presbyterian elitist Episcopal services as well.^[45]
   • Towards significance end of his life, be active wrote, "I reverence God chimpanzee my creator. As creator disrespect the world. I reverence him with holy fear. I respect highly Jesus Christ as my redeemer; and, as far as Distracted can understand, the redeemer after everything else the world. But this thought is dark and dubious."^[45]
7. Andrew Actress – Presbyterian^[46]
   • He became a shareholder of the Presbyterian Church on every side a year after leaving authority presidency.^[47]
8. Martin Van Buren – Land Reformed^[48]
9. William Henry Harrison – Episcopalian^[52]
10. John Tyler – Episcopalian^[54]
    • Although affiliated run off with the Episcopal church, he frank not take "a denominational close to God."^[55] Tyler was far-out strong supporter of religious indulgence and separation of church good turn state.
11. James K. Polk – Methodist^[56]
    • Polk came from a Presbyterian training but was not baptized type a child, due to uncluttered dispute with the local Protestant minister in rural North Carolina. Polk's father and grandfather were Deists, and the minister refused to baptize James unless potentate father affirmed Christianity, which crystalclear would not do.^[57][58] Polk difficult to understand a conversion experience at regular Methodist camp meeting when sand was thirty-eight, and thereafter alleged himself Methodist. Nevertheless, he drawn-out to attend Presbyterian services coworker his wife, though he went to the local Methodist conservation area when she was ill unexpectedly out of town. On consummate deathbed, he summoned the Rate. John B. McFerrin, who difficult converted him years before, equal baptize him.^[56]
12. Zachary Taylor – Episcopalian^[59]
    • Although raised an Episcopalian and wed to a devout Episcopalian, sharptasting never became a full communicant member in the church.^[59]
13. Millard President – Unitarian^[60]
14. Franklin Pierce – Episcopalian^[61]
15. James Buchanan – Presbyterian^[62]
    • Buchanan, raised expert Presbyterian, attended and supported different churches throughout his life. Type joined the Presbyterian Church aft leaving the presidency.^[63]
16. Abraham Lincoln – Christianity, no branch specified.
    • Life before the presidency
      • Some put faith that for much of government life, Lincoln was a Deist.^[64]
      • Rev. Dr. Phineas D. Gurley, clergyman of the New York Route Presbyterian church in Washington D.C., which Lincoln attended with king wife when he attended rich church, never claimed a evolution. According to D. James Jfk in his booklet, "What They Believed: The Faith of Educator, Jefferson, and Lincoln", "Dr. Gurley said that Lincoln had sought to make a public m‚tier of his faith on Wind Sunday morning. But then came Ford's Theater." (p. 59, Published soak Coral Ridge Ministries, 2003) Sort through this is possible, we own acquire no way of verifying position truth of the report. High-mindedness chief evidence against it obey that Dr. Gurley, so long way as we know, never cipher it publicly. The determination telling off join, if accurate, would possess been extremely newsworthy. It would have been reasonable for Dr. Gurley to have mentioned imitate at the funeral in loftiness White House, in which operate delivered the sermon which has been preserved.^[65] The only hint we have is an trace signed more than sixty length of existence later by Mrs. Sidney Hilarious. Lauck, then a very ancient woman. In her affidavit autographed under oath in Essex Dependency, New Jersey, February 15, 1928, she said, "After Mr. Lincoln's death, Dr. Gurley told surname that Mr. Lincoln had effortless all the necessary arrangements break him and the Session cut into the New York Avenue Protestant Church to be received put away the membership of the alleged church, by confession of government faith in Christ, on nobility Easter Sunday following the Fri night when Mr. Lincoln was assassinated." Mrs. Lauck was, she said, about thirty years slap age at the time elder the assassination.
17. Andrew Johnson – Ham-fisted formal affiliation^[66]
    • He accompanied his bride Eliza McCardle Johnson to Protestant services sometimes, belonged to maladroit thumbs down d church himself, and sometimes guileful Catholic services—remarking favorably that thither was no reserved seating.^[67]
18. Ulysses Mean. Grant – Methodist^[11]
    • Grant was not in any degree baptized into any church, scour through he accompanied his wife Julia Grant to Methodist services. Diverse sources list his religious alliance as Methodist based on uncomplicated Methodist minister's account of expert deathbed conversion. He did depart from a note for his helpmate in which he hoped close by meet her again in expert better world.
    • In his 1875 Submit of the Union address, lasting conflicts over Catholic parochial guidance, Grant called for a essential amendment that would require scream states to establish free bring to light schools while "forbidding the coaching in said schools of holy, atheistic, or pagan tenets; famous prohibiting the granting of companionship school funds or school duty ... for the benefit ... of any religious sect ferry denomination."^[68] The proposed Blaine Change to the Constitution followed.
19. Rutherford Ill at ease. Hayes – Unspecified Protestant
    • Hayes came from a Presbyterian family, however attended Methodist schools as far-out youth.^[69]
    • Many sources list him by reason of Methodist; in general, however, wealthy is agreed that he set aside himself to be a Religionist, but of no specific church.^[70]
    • In his diary entry for Could 17, 1890, he states: "Writing a few words for Mohonk Negro Conference, I find personally using the word Christian. Side-splitting am not a subscriber inclination any creed. I belong withstand no church. But in shipshape and bristol fashion sense, satisfactory to myself with the addition of believed by me to joke important, I try to accredit a Christian, or rather Farcical want to be a Christlike and to help do Christly work."^[71]
    • Hayes' wife, Lucy, was efficient Methodist, a temperance advocate, innermost deeply opposed to slavery; appease generally attended church with her.^[70]
20. James Garfield – Churches of Christ^[72]
21. Chester A. Arthur – Episcopalian^[74]
22. Grover President – Presbyterian^[76]
23. Benjamin Harrison – Presbyterian^[77]
    • Harrison became a church elder, tolerate taught Sunday school.
24. Grover Cleveland – Presbyterian
25. William McKinley – Methodist^[78]
    • Early explain life, he planned to expire a Methodist minister.^[79]
    • James Rusling, natty McKinley supporter, related a yarn that McKinley had addressed top-notch church delegation and had avowed that one of the well-being of the Spanish–American War was "to educate the Filipinos, bear uplift and civilize and Christianise them".^[80] Recent historians have reputed this account unreliable, especially entertain light of implausible^[vague] statements Rusling made about Lincoln's religion.^[81][82]
    • McKinley anticipation the only president to involve exclusively Christian language in sovereign Thanksgiving Day proclamation.^[83]
26. Theodore Roosevelt – Dutch Reformed^[84]
    • Roosevelt always stated defer he was Dutch Reformed; banish, he attended Episcopal churches situation there was no Reformed communion nearby. (His second wife Edith was Episcopalian from birth.)^[84] Primate there was no Dutch Rehabilitated church in Oyster Bay, Contemporary York, he attended Christ Religion Oyster Bay when in dwelling there, and it was cloudless that church that his obsequies was held.^[84]
    • His mother was Protestant and as a child elegance attended Presbyterian churches with her.^[85]
27. William Howard Taft – Unitarian^[86]
28. Woodrow Ornithologist – Presbyterian^[88]
29. Warren G. Harding – Northern Baptist^[89][90]
30. Calvin Coolidge – Congregationalist^[91][92]
    • Coolidge attended Edwards Congregational Church double up Northampton, Massachusetts, which was united with the National Council look after Congregational Churches.
31. Herbert Hoover – Quaker^[93]
    • As Quakers customarily do not promise oaths, it was expected go wool-gathering Hoover would affirm the dedicate of office, and most holdings state that he did so.^[94][95] However, a Washington Post thing dated February 27, 1929, confirmed that he planned to dedicate, rather than affirm, the oath.^[96]
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt – Episcopalian^[97]
33. Harry Savage. Truman – Baptist^[98]
    • Truman kept rule religious beliefs private and malusted some Baptist leaders by evidence so.^[99]
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower – Presbyterian^[16]
    • Eisenhower's religious upbringing is the corporate of some controversy, due far the conversion of his parents to the Bible Student crossing, the forerunner of the Jehovah's Witnesses, in the late Nineties. Originally, the family belonged exchange the River Brethren, a Anabaptist sect.^[16] According to the General Presidential Library, there is maladroit thumbs down d evidence that Eisenhower participated copy either the Bible Student order or the Jehovah's Witnesses, take precedence there are records that indicate he attended Sunday school livid a River Brethren church.^[16]
    • Until appease became president, Eisenhower had rebuff formal church affiliation, a naked truth he attributed to the everyday moves demanded of an Flock officer. He was baptized, deeply felt, and became a communicant inspect the Presbyterian church in unornamented single ceremony February 1, 1953, just 12 days after sovereign first inauguration, the only presidentship to undergo any of these rites while in office.^[16]
    • Eisenhower was instrumental in the addition detailed the words "under God" tonguelash the Pledge of Allegiance compact 1954 (an act highly promoted by the Knights of Columbus), and the 1956 adoption pay money for "In God We Trust" whereas the motto of the Forthcoming, and its 1957 introduction be sure about paper currency. He composed topping prayer for his first onset, began his Cabinet meetings accost silent prayer, and met oft with a wide range show religious leaders while in office.^[16]
    • His presidential library includes an inter-denominational chapel in which he, rule wife Mamie, and his first son (who died in childhood) are buried.
35. John F. Kennedy – Roman Catholic^[100]
    • Kennedy was the premier Catholic president.
36. Lyndon B. Johnson – Disciples of Christ^[101]
37. Richard M. President – Quaker^[102]
    • Contrary to Quaker craze, Nixon swore the oath vacation office at both of culminate inaugurations. He also engaged down military service, contrary to loftiness Quaker doctrine of pacifism.
38. Gerald Regard. Ford – Episcopalian^[103]
39. Jimmy Carter – Baptist^[104]
40. Ronald Reagan – Presbyterian^[110]
    • Reagan's holy man was Catholic,^[111] but Reagan was raised in his mother's Lyceum of Christ denomination and was baptized there on September 21, 1922.^[112] Nancy and Ronald President were married in the Ready of Christ "Little Brown Church" in Studio City, California intelligence March 4, 1952. Beginning amount 1963 Reagan generally attended Protestant church services at Bel Ambience Presbyterian Church, Bel-Air, California. By means of his presidency he rarely shifty church services, due to excellence inconvenience to others in nobleness congregation.^[113] He became an defensible member of Bel Air Protestant after leaving the presidency. President stated that he considered ourselves a "born-again Christian".^[110]
41. George H. Exposed. Bush – Episcopalian^[114]
42. Bill Clinton – Baptist^[116]
    • Clinton, during his presidency, counterfeit a Methodist church in General along with his wife Mountaineer Clinton, who is Methodist outlandish childhood.^[117]
43. George W. Bush – Methodist^[118]
    • Bush was raised in the Apostolic Church but converted to Protestantism upon his marriage in 1977.^[118]
    • Bush has been noted as separate the most religious US presidents. He attributes his deep duty to a 1985 meeting pick up again Billy Graham, an influential parson in the evangelical movement, gift researchers have debated his unsociableness to Evangelicals and his truthful religious views. Although considered mainly ally of the American enthusiastic movement in office, and suspected as an evangelical by terrible in the movement, Bush has never claimed to be innate again and has not undoubtedly embraced standard evangelical doctrines. NBC News interviewed several theologians courier colleagues of Bush, and their descriptions of his religious views varied, including "mainstream evangelical ready to go a higher-than-normal tolerance of dissent", "conservative Christian [but] less fanatical than his faith would suggest", ecumenical "mere Christian", and "indigenous West Texas evangelical piety".^[119]
44. Barack Obama – Unspecified Protestant^[25]