Not long after Lincoln's assassination, the debate began: Was Lincoln a committed Christian or a confirmed skeptic? Scholar Philip Ostergard provides the answer with a thorough study of the president's references to God, the Bible, and Christian principles in his letters and speeches. The Inspired Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln illustrates the depth of Lincoln's knowledge of Scripture; the Bible's influence on his character; and the development of his faith, particularly as he wrestled with the issue of slavery and led the nation through the tumultuous years of the Civil War. Readers will find this a fascinating and inspiring handbook of answers to the questions about one of our greatest presidents.

"I have often wished that I was a more devout man than I am."

Was Abraham Lincoln a committed Christian or a confirmed skeptic? Two hundred years after his birth, the question is still hotly debated. Lincoln never joined a church nor made a public confession of faith. Clearly, he wrestled with doubt as a young man, yet he showed renewed interest in God and the Bible following the death of two of his sons and during the darkest days of the Civil War.

When Lincoln reunited a country fractured by the Civil War—all the while enduring unceasing political criticism and tragic personal losses—he triumphed under conditions that would break most people. Determined to discover the source of this amazing strength and resilience, scholar Philip Ostergard has spent years uncovering the roles of God and faith in Lincoln's life. The Inspired Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln is the result: a fascinating look at the depth of Lincoln's biblical knowledge and his views on God and Christianity.

For those who seek answers to the questions surrounding Lincoln's beliefs, The Inspired Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln offers intriguing details into Lincoln's conflict between doubt and faith, as well as the complex times in which he lived.