Religion and Morality: The Forgotten Lesson of George Washington's Farewell Address

Authors

Kenneth P. Schell, Mid-America Christian University, Liberty UniversityFollow

Abstract

This paper attempts to show that there is a forgotten lesson of religion and morality found in Washington’s Farewell Address. Like many of the Founders, George Washington believed that a government established as a republic could only stand if the people were virtuous. The works of many modern historians use a traditional two lesson narrative to explain the significance of Washington’s Farewell Address. The lesson is that the nation should be wary of entangling political alliances and the growing spirit of political factions. However, Washington put forth a third lesson that should be included when discussing Washington’s Farwell Address, that virtue could not be maintained in the absence of religion.

Recommended Citation

Schell, Kenneth P. (2023) "Religion and Morality: The Forgotten Lesson of George Washington's Farewell Address," Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History: Vol. 5: Iss. 2, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70623/UTEI1363
Available at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ljh/vol5/iss2/2