Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Michael Burkhimer Summary

Abraham Lincoln is perhaps the most revered American that has ever stepped foot on United States soil. Countless books have been written about him, and even today there are still authors who write their own take on his fascinating and unique life. Yet, for as famous and significant as this man was and continues to be, he is still a tremendous enigma. Historians have sought to know who the real man was ever since his life was prematurely ripped away by an actor whose heart was with his “country.” Of the many intriguing aspects of Lincoln’s life, there is one that has taken up steam almost immediately after April 15, 1865.
Throughout the life experiences of Lincoln, he made several memorable quotes about God and Christianity. However, his Christian beliefs are still heavily debated today. Some go so far to say that Lincoln was a theist, similar to the Founding Fathers, while others say that he was a staunch doctrinal Christian through and through. Michael Burkhimer in his book “Lincoln’s Christianity” attempts to take the most unbiased approach to this topic that has ever been attempted. His agenda for his book is to “explore Abraham Lincoln’s often nebulous relationship with the Christian religion (p. ix).” He

The author believes that this address “deserves special attention because of its deeply religious nature (p. 144).” Burkhimer then proceeds to break down each section of this vastly inspirational speech and draws conclusions based off of Lincoln’s illustrious and often biblical words. It is in this section of the book that Burkhimer lines up all the evidence and allows the reader to make their own decision. He concludes by quoting Lincoln himself, describing how he never chose a specific church to be affiliated with. However, at the end of the quote, Lincoln expresses his belief in the law and the gospel presented by Jesus in his