Abraham Lincoln Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"The Bible is not my Book and Christianity is not my religion.
I could never give assent to the long complicated statements
of Christian dogma."

by:	Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16th US President
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Categories:	Bible, President, Religion
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Reader comments about this quote:

-- Chip, Southampton
This seems unsupportable given other things Lincoln said. I would like to see the source of the quote and the context of the selection. -- Dale Morfey, Fort Smith, AR 1 1
Lincoln was not a Christian: http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/lincoln.htm http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/lewis/lewis07.htm -- Anonymous 1
Amen, Abe Lincoln! God bless you for your wisdom. -- Pete, West Long Branch
Our country was founded upon a belief in god. But long and complicated statements are truly found in today's tax code. Even the IRS doesn't understand their own bull$#!+. -- Joe, Rochester, MI
The reason there is no source is because he never said it. Other quotes are sourced. This is not. Lincoln did say: "In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book." -- September 7, 1864 – Abraham Lincoln’s Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible and "That I am not a member of any Christian Church, is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or any denomination of Christians in particular." -- July 31, 1846 - Handbill Replying to Charges of Infidelity and "I do not think I could myself, be brought to support a man for office, whom I knew to be an open enemy of, and scoffer at, religion." -- July 31, 1846 - Handbill Replying to Charges of Infidelity -- Carl, Kittanning, PA 1
I also am looking for the source. I have here in my office "Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings, 1832-1865" It does not seem to be in here. Did he say it when he was a child? Perhaps he said it in 1866, after his death? -- tim, pa 2
Lincoln is quoted in 'Lincoln, the Freethinker', by Joseph Lewis, 1924. -- Editor, Liberty Quotes
-- Anonymous
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-- Johnson, Gainesville, FL
I love this quote. I live this quote! -- Ericka, Phoenix, AZ
I love this quote. I live this quote! -- Ericka, Phoenix, AZ
I am also skeptical about this quote since I cannot find its source. (By source I mean reference to a writing by Lincoln in which in appears, or a contemporaneous account of his saying it. Simply quoting someone else's claim that Linclon said it constitutes double hearsay - not evidence). I am familiar with the quotes provide by Carl of Kittanning, PA (Go, Ukiah Oregon!), having found them in the Library of America's publication of Lincoln's writings (a usually reliable source (which I believe Tim of Pa has also referenced), and they serve to reinforce my skepticism. On the other hand, here is a passage and quotation from the Encyclopaedia Britannica (15th Ed., 1982) Vol. 10, page 986: With his wife, Lincoln attended Presbyterian services in Springfield and in Washington but never joined any church. He once explained: "When any church will inscribe over its altar, as its sole qualification for membership, . . . 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself', that church will I join with all my heart and all my soul." Evidently, he never found a church that met his condition. -- Benjamin, Tolleson 1
I had this quote by Abe Lincoln on my refrigerator for years. These are words of wisdom, words to live by. -- rachel, st paul minnesota
Lincoln was saying simply, that the Bible is God's Book and Christian dogma is man's corrupt proclamation of it, to which he cannot assent. -- V. G. La Vanway, Dayton 1
Amen! -- dmhlt, Hometown
There is another quote similar to this but the word religion is substituted with profession. That is Abe was saying that theology is not his profession or expertise. -- Anonymous
i guess abe was an idiot -- ted, cullman
Wrongly attributed to Lincon. This is a common error much like urban myths. This erro is well known to those who bother to study theman. -- Tom, Pittsburgh PA
In regard to what Abe Lincoln say about religion and do take in mind that I do not doubt Lincoln was a right and just man but if you use the words of the bible you can see why Obama want to use the Lincoln Bible to be swear in on, which is found in 2 Timothy 3:5 ■Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Because Lincoln very really join any church Obama see that this was a loop hold to which he can swear on a Bible that is not consecrated therefore if will not affect his true action. As remember Matthew 24:24 which says: ■For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. So therefore you should remember what was written in Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. I know you going to take what I just wrote and try to use it against me by using this very statement against me but I not the one who is being fooled I have found my path and is not being deceive by words that is saying exactly what I want to hear. Just take this in mind I am just here to give you a warning of what it is that is coming so if I was you I would prepare myself for the worst but hope for the best and stop taken what others people are saying including me and find out for yourself what is the real truth of what is exactly going on, but do remember this what sound one is tell you make be exactly what you want, but please do remember this that what you want may come with a very high price to pay, therefore it up to you to decide on whether or not you want to pay that price, meaning you need to decide ahead of time is this what you really want because once it done then it no turn back and you may end up loosing for that you may really know. Including your soul all because you took at heart someone who talked fancy words and believe that he is the savor who is going to save you from the pandemonium that the entire world is currently facing. Therefore the person who originally told you what Lincoln say is just trying to tell you that Obama has an arterial motive for the reason he does anything and it has nothing to do with the American People. So for he has use all the people who have help Afro-American mean to which he has tried to compare himself too and crush those who stood in his way by make them look racist then used very people that person use even had because he knows that that person was the better chose for the job yet he convince the people that they was not. Meaning he have like I say earlier he has an Arterials motive to which he want to carry out and you can bet it not in the best interest of the American People. Why else would he asked a current President could he move into the White House earlier, Why else would they try to move up the inauguration date to an earlier date. You cannot use that this is trying time therefore things are difference because the country has face time even worst than this and they did have never did the things that Obama have tried to do. Most President do not even give a speech or do any news conference until after their inauguration address, yet he have tried to run the country the day after the election otherwise why did the Current President had to keep saying ■WE ONLY HAVE ONE PRESIDENT AT A TIME■. Look Obama on action tell you what he is all about but most people are blinded by he words and they own wants therefore they do not see what he is truly all about, which get back to Lincoln and what he said and the reason why Obama chose his Bible and not the Bible that was use by others President in History. Which goes back to when he swore in as Senator to which he use the Quran not the Holly Bible now he want to use a bible that is not consecrated you be the judge on who he really is. -- Michael, Columbus 1
>Which goes back to when he swore in as Senator to which he use the Quran not the Holly Bible< How can someone be so ignorant? Obama is - unfortunately - a Christian. He certainly never swore on the bible of another religion. -- Dave, Los Angeles
no way, no how. i'm sure an atheist was at the bottom of this fallacy. study the man, and you will know he never would have uttered these words. u liberals would stop at nothing to advance an agenda. lie about a man with the virtues he had. no dignity, decency, whatever in whoever wrote that quote. -- bill, chicago
This is not factual. Whoever wrote this quote is trying to make people of faith look less of what they have done for this county. Honest Abe was a very spiritual man and a Christian. Unfortunately people like to water this down and try to get rid of the Christian principals our country was built upon. Yes, Christian principals! God has truly blessed this nation. Why is it that all countries built upon men and women of faith have been blessed and elsewhere have not. Ever thought of that. But now that our government is scrutinizing the Christian faith (also, much false testimony), why is it that everything seems to be falling off a cliff. When we lose the Christian principals of this country, we lose our country. You know it is true, you selfish so open-minded your brain has fallen out individuals. -- Jared, Cincinnati
What we do know about Lincoln and the statements that can be validated, it is highly unlikely that he would denigrate the Bible or Christianity in that fashion. -- Steve, Coral Springs 1
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Read your Shakespeare folks. -- Anonymous
I'm an atheist, but I'm skeptical about this quote as well. It isn't referenced or supported by evidence. -- Andy
Christian revisionists are as bad as holocaust deniers (unsurprising, as most holocaust deniers are also "christians"). While this particular quote is unsourced and probably specious, there is plenty of irrefutable evidence as to what Lincoln's beliefs were: "In making up my mind as to what Mr. Lincoln really believed, I do not take into consideration the evidence of unnamed persons or the contents of anonymous letters; I take the testimony of those who knew and loved him, of those to whom he opened his heart and to whom he spoke in the freedom of perfect confidence." -- Robert Green Ingersoll, who fought in the Union Army, "The Religious Belief of Abraham Lincoln," (May 28, 1896) "He was very cautious never to give expression to any thought or sentiment that would grate harshly upon a Christian's ear." -- Joshua Speed, explaining at least some of Lincoln's extremely careful choice of language that was later used by Christians in attempts to "prove" Lincoln's Christian piety, in Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln, quoted from A W Furches, personal letter to Cliff Walker (January 10, 2002) "Mr. Lincoln's maxim and philosophy were: 'What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.' He never joined any Church. He was a religious man always, I think, but was not a technical Christian." -- Mary Todd Lincoln in William Herndon's Religion of Lincoln, quoted from Franklin Steiner, The Religious Beleifs of Our Presidents, p. 118 My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures, have become clearer and stronger with advancing years and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them. -- Abraham Lincoln, to Judge J S Wakefield, after Willie Lincoln's death (Willie died in 1862) "When Dr. Holland asked Mr. Herndon about his partner's religoius convictions, Mr. Herndon replied that he had none, and the less he said on that subject the better. 'Oh well,' replied Dr. Holland, 'I'll fix that.'" -- Franklin Steiner, The Religious Beliefs of Our Presidents, p. 112, on Dr. Josiah G Holland, later editor of Scribner's Monthly, having spent only two weeks interviewing Lincoln's friends before preparing his Biography, in which Holland fabricated accounts of Lincoln's piety -- Clyph, Washington, DC
-- Anonymous
When did Abe supposedly say this? Let's see the source material. -- cDa, Springfield
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-- Anonymous
abe lincoln was mean as hell read the book the south was right after the civil war he did not wont the black people coming north he said they were lower than white people dont believe all those northern writers if someone came to his office to give him advice he would ring a bell and have them put in jail just read your true history he was a son of a bitch excuse me -- john mccain arizona, arizona
Lincoln's own wife said that he wasn't a Christian. She said "Mr. Lincoln's maxim and philosophy were: 'What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.' He never joined any Church. He was a religious man always, I think, but was not a technical Christian." She also said "Mr. Lincoln had no hope, and no faith, in the usual acceptation of those words." Many of Lincoln's close friends, including his law partner and bodyguard, went further and claim that he was certainly an unbeliever, although he didn't discuss it much for obvious political reasons. -- Dan, Fairbanks
Reference? -- Tuan, Honolulu
this is really true and those people who put thumbs down is a dummy -- justin, aj
Abraham Lincoln in Quran Readthe story ofAbraham Lincoln in Quran (words of the God) the holly book for Muslims since more than 1400 years ago abrahamlincolninquran.blogspot.com http://abrahamlincolninquran.blogspot.ae/2013/04/abraham-lincoln.html -- Abraham, world
Gotta love the religious zealots; "This isn't true because I don't want to believe it." Whether or not you can prove it's true, the statement simply means that he did not believe himself an arbiter of religion. Much as I might say "Country music? That's not my thing." He was a humble man, and knew, as our founding fathers knew, that it was not a politician's place to tell people what their fath should be. He declined the spiritual governance of the people, rightly figuring that adults can decide their religion for themselves. -- Jay, Lexington

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