‘Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.” George Washington’s Farewell Address was unlike Joe Biden’s or Donald Trump’s speeches. Religion, for Washington, was not a mere slogan. God was not someone to be remade in the image of his political ideology or ego. Religion is something to be revered as necessary, and God is a benevolent Creator to whom we owe praise and thanks and responsibility. When we hear “God” today from a politician of either or any party, think deeper. Think of Washington and be challenged.
Before he even began to talk about his practical concerns for freedom used wisely and about the foundational nature of religious liberty itself, our first president expressed his thoughts with humility and utmost respect for the American people, and with confidence in their understanding that our nation is a gift unlike others. “The love of liberty” was “interwoven” with “every ligament of your hearts,” Washington said. No “recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.”
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