What did John Adams mean when he used the term "General Principles of Christianity" in his 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson?
Read Adam's letter at
http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/adamsprinciples.html
John Adams held some strange ideas regarding "general Christian principles." The principles, according to Adam's letter, were whatever principles Catholics, Protestants, Deists and Atheists agreed upon.
The general Principles, on which the Fathers Achieved Independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their Address, or by me in my Answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all those Sects were united: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence.
The "sects" were,
Roman Catholicks, English Episcopalians, Scotch and American Presbyterians, Methodists, Moravians, Anababtists, German Lutherans, German Calvinists Universalists, Arians, Priestleyans, Socinians, Independents, Congregationalists, Horse Protestants and House Protestants, Deists and Atheists; and "Protestans qui ne croyent rien ["Protestants who believe nothing"]
Adams was a smart ass. What he was actually saying was that the principles upon which independence was achieved were purely secular.
