Were the Founding Fathers Christians? It's a common quarrel among students of American history – and one that's frequently fought along partisan lines.  Conservatives point to the frequent references to God and divine providence made in the letters and speeches of the Founders, whereas liberals point to their rejection of clericalism and skepticism toward the supernatural aspects of religion. This question, difficult to answer for all the major early American leaders, proves particularly puzzling when applied to Benjamin Franklin.  Some scholars, most recently Thomas Kidd, have taken Franklin's proposal for prayer at the Constitutional Convention as evidence for Franklin's belief in particular providence.  Others, comparing Franklin's proposal with his other statements questioning an active, providential deity, have concluded that he was insincere.  Ultimately, neither perspective is quite right. Franklin's...(Read Full Article)