The Soul of Abraham Lincoln

Barton begins by addressing the common misconceptions and conflicting reports about Lincoln's religious views. He carefully examines the President’s early life his upbringing in a frontier family with strong Baptist influences and his exposure to different religious ideas. Despite Lincoln’s lack of formal church membership and his skepticism toward organized religion in his youth Barton argues that Lincoln's spiritual beliefs evolved significantly over time especially during his presidency and the Civil War. The book delves into Lincoln’s speeches letters and personal reflections to highlight how his evolving faith played a critical role in shaping his leadership and decision-making during the war. Barton explores how the profound suffering and national crisis of the Civil War as well as personal tragedies like the death of Lincoln’s son Willie deepened the President’s reliance on a sense of divine providence. Lincoln’s famous addresses including the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address are analyzed for their spiritual depth and theological implications.