GREENEVILLE – Most people know the heroic and statesman elements of George Washington’s stewardship of our nation in the formation and early days of the United States.
Dr. Timothy Holder
Washington was commander of the Continental Army that defeated the British in the Revolutionary War, and he later served as the nation’s first president. But what about other elements that shaped Washington’s life, such as his faith?
Dr. Timothy Holder, who teaches history online for Walters State Community College and Liberty University, will discuss “The Faith of George Washington” Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in Chalmers Conference Center at Tusculum University. The presentation is free.
“The faith of George Washington is a complicated topic,” Dr. Holder said. “There are highly regarded historians who say he was pretty indifferent to his faith, but there are those who disagree. The skeptics can point to specific information to make their case, but I argue that there is a lot of evidence that indicates that Washington’s Christian faith was quite important to him.”
The discussion about Washington’s faith is interesting because of the debate about the role it played in his life, Dr. Holder said. He is also attracted to the topic because of Washington’s remarkable popularity in colonial times and during the years when the United States was gaining its footing as a nation. Dr. Holder called him “extraordinary.”
Washington was an Anglican, but Dr. Holder said that denomination crumbled during the Revolution. Like many American Anglicans, Washington subsequently found himself as part of the Episcopal Church.
This Founding Father has an important connection to Tusculum. During his presidency, Washington donated $100 to Greeneville College – a predecessor name of Tusculum – which was founded in 1794. Today, Tusculum is remembering that special gift by conducting the “Give Like George Washington” fundraiser in which the university invites people to donate $100 or any amount they prefer.
Dr. Holder’s presentation on Washington is one of the series of events Tusculum is holding during the fall semester that focuses on history. The America 250/Tusculum 232 Celebration is designed to highlight various aspects of American history, including those that occurred in East Tennessee. The events also call attention to Tusculum’s contributions to the nation’s success. The list of events is available at https://iasite.tusculum.edu/america-250-tusculum-232-events/.
In addition to his duties as a professor, Dr. Holder is an author and speaker. He speaks more than 100 times a year to civic groups, churches, schools and other organizations, and “The Faith of George Washington” is one of the topics he offers on the lecture circuit.
Additionally, Dr. Holder has written about 20 books, mostly about presidents and faith. Among them are “Forged in Fire and Hope,” which examines the role religion played in the lives of some of the nation’s most popular presidents. They are Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield and Theodore Roosevelt. In an overview of that book, he discusses Washington and his faith.
“If he was a Christian, why did he skip Communion for years?” Holder asked. “If he was not a Christian, how does one explain his high level of involvement in his church? Some call him a Deist, but if that was true, why did he pray so much?”
Other Dr. Holder books include “Devotions with Presidents,” “Presidential Trivia” and “The Three Presidents: An Adam Galloway Adventure.”
Dr. Holder, who has also appeared on television and movies as an actor. holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and education from Asbury University, a master’s degree in history from the University of Kentucky, a master’s in applied theology and religion from Carson-Newman University and a doctorate in history from UK.
“We are excited to have Dr. Holder share his scholarship on Washington and know he will capture the audience’s attention because of his expertise,” said the Rev. E.J. Swatsell, chair of the America 250/Tusculum 232 Committee and the university’s director of spiritual life. “Washington is respected across the board because of his leadership, bravery and commitment to our nation. But it is also a pleasure to see other facets of Washington’s life being given proper consideration for their impact on the way he carried himself.”
Anyone with questions about the presentation can email Swatsell at eswatsell@tusculum.edu. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.