Frederick H Spoerl’s 7/29/06 letter to the editor represents another attempt to rewrite history by blending half truths and lies with some truth in order to promote an agenda. His definition of deism is accurate: “a belief that a supernatural power created the universe, though this creator did not intervene in personal human affairs.” He writes, “Deism was a popular belief held in the 18th century by many of our Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.” Rather than joining Mr. Spoerl in his fanciful leap of faith, it is prudent to test whether or not they were deists by honest study of their various speeches and writings. For an honest, rational person, the words of these men leave no doubt they were not deists because they actually emphasized God’s intervention in human affairs. They commonly asked for His guidance, aid, providence, blessings, and protection and mentioned His wrath, ruling the universe, answering prayers, etc:

      Thomas Jefferson: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,...” (Declaration of Independence). “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever” (engraved on the Jefferson Memorial), “May that Infinite Power which rules the destinies of the universe, lead our councils to what is best, and given them a favorable issue for your peace and prosperity” (his First Inaugural Address, 1801).

      Benjamin Franklin: “How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding. In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection—Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor.”(speech to the Constitutional Convention 6/28/1787).

      Mr. Spoerl describes Thomas Paine as a “Founding Father” of our nation. As an influential agitator of the American Revolution, Mr. Paine’s pamphlets, “The Crisis”and “Common Sense” inspired common soldier and highest level leader alike. Nevertheless, he is not listed as a “Founding Father” in the U.S. National Archives that reserves that status for drafters/signers of the Declaration of Independence and/or Constitution. Thomas Paine was in France as a French revolutionary during our Constitutional Convention. It is true he was a deist for much of his life and lost popularity due, in great measure, to these beliefs. He died poor and a social outcast. Later in life, he renounced his work that many called the “atheist’s bible”: “I would give worlds, if I had them, if “The Age of Reason” had never been published. O Lord, help! Stay with me!” Even as a deist, Thomas Paine acknowledged his Creator: “The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Where, say some is the king of America? I’ll tell you, friend. He reigns above.”

      The following words of Thomas Jefferson pertain to Mr. Spoerl’s writings: “He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions.”

      Mr. Spoerl is blessed with freedom of speech to express his opinion that this nation needs to “keep religion out of our schools and government.” It is nonetheless a lie, his claim that our Founding Fathers shared his sentiment and set that precedent. His lie is easily and dramatically exposed by reading these words of 81 year-old Benjamin Franklin from his speech to the Constitutional Convention:

      “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that “except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel…I therefore beg leave to move—that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.”

Annie Bukacek MD