Changes

==Religion==

==Religion==

Abraham Lincoln, like many other people of his day, believed that "Religion is a private affair between a man and his God."  Doubts about Lincoln's faith have arisen mainly because he never officially joined a church, which his political opponents used sometimes to accuse him.  He had a love of the Bible and memorized parts of the Bible.  Lincoln said once that:

Abraham Lincoln, like many other people of his day, believed that "Religion is a private affair between a man and his God."  Doubts about Lincoln's faith have arisen mainly because he never officially joined a church, which his political opponents used sometimes to accuse him.  He had a love of the Bible and memorized parts of the Bible, and used biblical allusions later on in political speech.  Lincoln said once that:

''"I doubt the possibility or propriety of settling the religion of Jesus Christ in the models of man-made creeds and dogmas.  I cannot without mental reservations assent to long and complicated creeds and catechisms."''  

''"I doubt the possibility or propriety of settling the religion of Jesus Christ in the models of man-made creeds and dogmas.  I cannot without mental reservations assent to long and complicated creeds and catechisms."''  

:''"Tell father to remember to call upon and confide in our great, and good, and merciful Maker who will not turn away from him in any extremity.  He notes the fall of a sparrow and numbers the hairs of our heads; and he will not forget the dying man who puts his trust in him.  If it is to be his lot to go now, he will soon have a joyous meeting with many loved ones gone before; and where the rest of us, through the help of God, hope ere long to join them."''

:''"Tell father to remember to call upon and confide in our great, and good, and merciful Maker who will not turn away from him in any extremity.  He notes the fall of a sparrow and numbers the hairs of our heads; and he will not forget the dying man who puts his trust in him.  If it is to be his lot to go now, he will soon have a joyous meeting with many loved ones gone before; and where the rest of us, through the help of God, hope ere long to join them."''

Regardless of Lincoln's faith as a youth, it seemed to grow as President.  Lincoln penciled in "under God" after "one nation" for his [[Gettysburg Address]] delivered on November 19, 1863.  The phrase "under God" was not in the early drafts.  Mrs. Lincoln recalled her husband's last words just prior to his assassination in Ford's Theater: "He said he wanted to visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footprints of the [[Savior]]. He was saying there was no city he so much desired to see as Jerusalem."<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-09-08&view=View</ref>

Regardless of Lincoln's views on faith as a youth, it seemed to grow as President.  Lincoln penciled in "under God" after "one nation" for his [[Gettysburg Address]] delivered on November 19, 1863.  The phrase "under God" was not in the early drafts.  Mrs. Lincoln recalled her husband's last words just prior to his assassination in Ford's Theater: "He said he wanted to visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footprints of the [[Savior]]. He was saying there was no city he so much desired to see as Jerusalem."<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-09-08&view=View</ref>

 

After Lincoln was shot at Ford's theater two clergy claimed that he had made a secret trip from Washington to be baptized.  Also a Roman Catholic Priest claimed that Lincoln received the sacrament of baptism in secret.  Neither of these claims have any proof in White House records or his personal diary.<ref> [[God and the Oval Office]], by John C. McCollister, W Publishing, 2005.  </ref>

After Lincoln was shot at Ford's theater two clergy claimed that he had made a secret trip from Washington to be baptized.  Also a Roman Catholic Priest claimed that Lincoln received the sacrament of baptism in secret.  Neither of these claims have any proof in White House records or his personal diary.<ref> [[God and the Oval Office]], by John C. McCollister, W Publishing, 2005.  </ref>