This is an excellent and thoroughly researched book on the faith of George Washington. It is a strong rebuke to the historical revisionists who would make the first President a Diest.

In an effort to so carefully and completely refute these claims, the authors have amassed a mountain of evidence which they present and repeat for 725 pages and then add another nearly 200 pages in appendices. The footnotes are also quite extensive. In their zeal to defend the faith of our Founding Father, I fear they have produced a work too extensive for most readers to digest and appreciate.

I made my way through this book out of shear determination. While it solidified my confidence in the Christian faith of George Washington, it ceased to inspire or engage me long before the final chapters. Perhaps the authors would consider an abridged version that deletes the extensive repetitions and offers a more accessible source for those who are less likely to read such a lengthy and scholarly work.

This was an amazing book. I've been on a history kick lately and have loved learning about some of our founding fathers. George Washington was truly a man of character and honor. I learned so much about him and his quiet, humble nature. This is a long book, but well worth the read.

This is amazing. Well written and so inspiring. You can open it anywhere and just read for a while. Everyone should own this book and keep it on your coffee table so you have quick access.

Excellent and informative book. I'm proud of my 4th cousin!

The authors did a great job of proving that Washington wasn't a Deist. They provide numerous textual support from Washington's own writing and from other documents of the time.

My only critique of the book is that it's long and becomes very repetitive after awhile. The book is great if you want to do some quick research, but it's not the best book for pleasure reading, in my mind. I had a hard time getting into it.

This is an excellent book for those who want to know more about our first President's faith. It is very long but worth the read. The author does a great job using first source documents. I am very happy to report that without a doubt President George Washington was a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ! The book has ten appendixes and the endnotes start on page 959 and go through 1155. The author, Peter A. Lillback, did much research for this fantastic book! I highly recommend it.

"Licentiousness is an abuse of liberty. It is a spirit of anything hoes. In contrast, Pres. George Washington believed in ordered liberty, liberty under God's law."

Lillback rescues Washington from the charge of Deism, but not Masonry.

Thesis: George Washington was neither a Deist nor a modern Fundamentalist Evangelical. Rather, he was an orthodox Latitudinarian within the Anglican church. This means that while he did not have the outward, expressive, emotional zeal of 20th century counterparts, he did have a real faith in a Personal Triune God, and sucha faith did inform his public policies and inspire commitments.

Critics object that Washington never referred to Jesus; refused to partake of the Lord's Supper, and among other things, used Deistic language. Lillback skillfully rebuts all claims:

(1) Washington did refer to Jesus, and those who say otherwise just ignore several letters where he recommends "the author of our Faith" (a reference to Christ in the book of Hebrews), and the religion of Jesus to the Indians. Also, Washington didn't like to speak of himself at all. It is not the case that he refused to speak of his Faith. Rather, he refused to speak of Washington.

(2) It is true at times that Washington refused to take communion, but a number of points need to be made: a) this was not like the modern, high church Episcopalism. Due to the lack of ministers, and the frontier nature of the church, congregations would celebrate communion only a few times a year (in other words, imagine any random evangelical church).

(3) Did Washington use Deistic language? Lillback tries to answer no on two counts. Dr Lillback shows that terms that Deists use were actually Christian terms that were subsequently stripped of their orthodox meaning. Therefore (2) if he used Deistic language, his lifestyle and other references indicate that he did not mean by it the same thing Deists meant by it." While that may be true, it is also assuming what one is trying to prove.

EDIT: Several years later I feel i have to qualify my initial praise. I'm still judging the book in terms of Lillback's aims and goals: if you are wanting to see what Washington said concerning religion, and what he could and could not have meant by them, Lillback gives you close to 1,000 pages. While Lillback is correct to point out Washington was not a Deist, he does not rescue Washington from the Masonic charge--and given the diabolical nature of masonry from masonry's own testimony (see below). While some of the openly satanic writings appear after Washington, and one shouldn't commit the anachronistic fallacy, one is safe to presume continuity between 18th century freemasonry and Hall.

Further EDIT: I had quoted in my review Masonic authority Manley Hall where he states Masons worship Lucifer. People got angry. Either Masonic sources speak authoritatively and represent Masonry, or they don't. If the latter, then why do they bother writing? Also, and this point is routinely ignored by critics/defenders of Washington/defenders of Lucifer, is that I realize Washington probably didn't believe the same type of devil-worship that Hall and Pike believe. I am simply pointing out his legacy is in brotherly communion with such people.

GREAT

Boring. It is books like these why people believe history is boring

If you want a great book to read and you love faith and history in whatever order, this is your book! Great facts backed up by over-extensive endnotes and apendixes. I'd read it again, and I don't do that often!
Christ's peace!

After reading just a couple of chapters, there was be NO DOUBT that George Washington was a Christian. The internal strength, integrity, honestly and fortitude of this great man is examined in tremendous detail. This book opened my eyes to how deeply devoted our first president was to his Deity.