Adams was a Unitarian. He certainly believed in a god and had a high opinion of the Christian principles he found in the Bible. Unitarians, at the time, were generally regarded as nonconforming Protestants who shared no common dogma except a commitment to intellectual freedom and reason. But I think it is safe to say that Adams regarded himself as a Christian.

It is also true, and worth mentioning, that he had some fairly harsh things to say about Christianity as it was practiced by many religious institutions, especially Catholicism.

Adams also believed in secular government and in the protection of freedom of conscience for all.

Posted: June 29th 2009

See all questions answered by George Ricker

Contemporary sources point at him rejecting orthodox Christianity (Catholicism, Protestantism) and becoming a Unitarian. He had many discussions and disagreements with Jefferson over religion. Of the Framers, Adams probably wasn’t the only Christian – freedom of religion was, after all, one of the reasons behind the desire for Independence.

While advocating religion, Adams also advocated free thought and enquiry. One day he might say:
bq. Without religion this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company, I mean Hell.

and follow that with:
bq. Let the human mind loose. It must be loose. It will be loose. Superstition and dogmatism cannot confine it.

Still, the religious inclinations of individual Framers is less of an issue than their collective agreement on what should be in the Constitution of the United States. The document they produced and signed is clear on this: a secular state with freedom of religion. This was formalized later in the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.

Posted: June 28th 2009

See all questions answered by brian thomson