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I agree. I also think that political pressure can influence how politicians word their statements which adds even more complexity. The quote from Rutherford B. Hayes, "...I try to be a Christian, or rather I want to be a Christian and to help do Christian work," is clearly not an "I am a Christian" statement. Was he a non-Christian trying to liken himself to a Christian or was he a Christian trying to sound more middle of the road - secular? I don't know the history of the political environment of the time, so I have no idea. It would seem that being a Christian wasn't as important to electability in the past as it is now (in this country).

And I suppose I shouldn't limit that to politicians. That Steven Hawkins guy ended Brief History of Time With something like, "...then we will know the mind of God." I mean, how misleading is that? And why? To sell a few extra books? He was later quoted as saying, "In the proof stage I nearly cut the last sentence in the book... Had I done so, the sales might have been halved."

So yeah, any accounting of Presidential religious affiliation should be taken with a grain...

"This is more about outsiders deciding who is and isn’t Christian in spite of what each individual claimed themselves to be."

I agree. Because belief is an internal process, you pretty much have to take someone's word for what they believe. Unfortunately, many Christians don't. e.g., many would have it that Einstein believed in God, while Hitler was an atheist. Maybe when more Christians adopt evolution into their belief system, Dawkins will become a Believer in many imaginations. After all, he considered himself a "cultural" Christian, and that's got to be the same thing...

Belief is an internal process, so you pretty much have to take someone's word for what they believe. Unfortunately, people tend to die, and then their word tends to get reinterpreted. Sometimes, it even happens while they're alive. I'm not suggesting any of your research was wrong, David—I personally believe that most of America's past presidents probably did consider themselves Christians—just that there isn't really a satisfactory way to define people as "Christian". Christians have made the borders of their beliefs too fuzzy.

I don't know where you did your research, but the rest of the internet doesn't agree.

http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/franklin_steiner/presidents.html
http://www.adherents.com/adh_presidents.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidential_religious_affiliations

William Henry Harrison - Was a vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio - http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0194730-00

Andrew Johnson - "As for my religion, it is the doctrine of the Bible, as taught and practiced by Jesus Christ." - G.F. Milton (2004). The Age of Hate: Andrew Johnson And The Radicals. Kessinger Publishing, 80.

Ulysses S. Grant - "Ulysses S Grant was a nominal Presbyterian throughout his life. Many sources list his religious affiliation as Methodist based on a Methodist minister's account of a deathbed conversion by Grant." - http://www.adherents.com/people/pg/Ulysses_Grant.html (adherents.com - take it for what it's worth)

Rutherford B. Hayes - "I am not a subscriber to any creed. I belong to no church. But in a sense, satisfactory to myself and believed by me to be important, I try to be a Christian, or rather I want to be a Christian and to help do Christian work." - May 17, 1890 Diary entry - http://www.ohiohistory.org/onlinedoc/hayes/Volume04/Chapter50/May171890.txt

Franklin Pierce - "Pierce expressed himself in writing at least twice on the subject of religion, once in a manuscript fragment written in later life describing his beliefs in college which show them to be decidedly orthodox... In later life, during the Civil War, he was baptized, confirmed and became a regular communicant in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in Coneord." - Professor Roy F. Nichols, of the Department of History, in the University of Pennsylvania - http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/franklin_steiner/presidents.html#4.1

I'll leave the deists alone - three of the four listed are often labeled as Episcopal, but it's obvious these guys were fence sitters.

The next group that you have listed all thought of themselves as Christians, but you seem to have taken the JW stance that it's not up to a person to decide if they are themselves Christian.

To illustrate the point, I used to be a JW. When I joined up with a prayer group at school, no one thought twice about the fact of my Christianity. When I joined the work force, my closest friends were all very active Christians. We disagreed on almost every religious subject, but not once was my Christianity questioned. When I moved to Maryland I was hired to work at Trinity Labs where all upper management were die hard Christians. They welcomed me like a brother. In all cases I was known as a JW who did not believe that Jesus was God and that I rejected the Trinity. At no time was my Christianity questioned.

As a matter of fact, the ONLY time I have EVER heard such a notion was within a Kingdom Hall or from a JW - whether talking about how others supposedly think JW's aren't Christian or that JW's were the only Christians.

Of course, if we get to decide who is and who is not a Christian based on our own beliefs or by popular vote, I'm sure most would say G.W. Bush isn't "Christian". But that would put the kibosh on your idea that Christians have been running this country into the ground for the last 8 years.

Next you have a group that you say are "Nominally Christian, but questionable". Again this is more about outsiders deciding who is and isn't Christian in spite of what each individual claimed themselves to be. In each case there is considerable evidence that they presented themselves as Christian.

Before this post I was under the impression that three Presidents were non-Christians. I'm now open to the idea that it may be as many as five, but also just as likely two. Thanks.

What! No Rastafarians! Are Americans insane?

You mention WH Harrison right at the outset as "irreligious". I think you meant to put Benjamin Harrison there, no? (But he was a nominal Presbyterian.)

Trivia factor aside, is it particularly useful to establish what number of America's presidents accepted the Nicene Creed? It doesn't demolish the claim that America has mostly been led by Christians: the length of the terms of those presidents still has to be accounted for. Before you count that, though, I think this research distracts from other very important points.

For example, Christianity isn't why America was established. To some extent, sectarianism was a factor in the nation's colonization, but that only highlights the difficulties Christians have agreeing with one another even on their most basic doctrines. More importantly, Christianity was rampant in Europe throughout America's childhood, and America declared its independence for secular reasons. In declaring independence, America separated itself from a Christian monarch who considered himself God's representative. If we were to describe America's independence in terms of religion, the term would be "apostasy". The reason we don't do so is that America declared independence for sound, secular reasons.

But the fact of the matter is, precedent isn't good pretext. Even if America were founded a religious, state, why should it remain so? Bigotry?

I think in many cases Presidential "faith" is really just a political move. The religious position of George W certainly helped his election; although, his actions are decidedly antichrist in my opinion.

The real question, I wonder is, how many presidents are secretly occultists? The ceremonies and rites of Skull & Bones and Bohemian Grove, which have presidential membership, are rooted in ancient mystery religions and worship of ancient gods, such as Molech.

Didn't know if you knew this but Eisenhower was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses; but left later in life.