Beliefnet Launches 'Founding Faith Archive'

Beliefnet, the Web site devoted to religion and spirituality, has launched "The Founding Faith Archive," an online resource with information on the writings of the nation's Founding Fathers that relate to religious freedom and the separation of church and state. The archive was developed after Beliefnet Editor-in-Chief Steven Waldman completed research for his new book, "Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America."

It includes:
-- George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
-- James Madison’s argument for abstinence of state from religion
-- Benjamin Franklin’s request for prayer at the Constitutional Convention
-- Thomas Jefferson’s letter to John Adams mocking the Virgin Birth

"Activists routinely misquote the Founding Fathers and distort their true views on this profoundly important topic," said Waldman, in a Tuesday announcement of the project. "Now you can read the documents yourself and see how Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Washington and the other Founders wrestled with these difficult topics."