I can’t make contribute any informed comment to the discussion about the faith of the Founders, not knowing the territory, so I’ll ask a question instead, addressing it to colleagues who actually have read this stuff up.
A friend of mine–not known to this blog–is a Christian (Episcopalian) of a conscientious sort, though not zealous or obtrusive about it. How did he define his own Christianity? I asked him once. He: “I believe every word of the Nicene Creed.”
Question: Did any of the Founders rise to that standard? If so, which ones?