Lincoln's "Little Book on Infidelity" Published

[David T]

"In 1834, Lincoln tried his own hand at writing 'a little Book on Infidelity.' This was probably no more than an essay written on foolscap 'attacking the divinity of Christ — Special inspiration [of the Bible] — Revelation &c.,' which he was thinking of sending to a newspaper for publication. The public fury that might descend on his head from such an essay persuaded Lincoln, or least some of his friends, to 'burn it, which was done.' Parthena Hill remembered that her husband actually took it out of his hand and threw it into the fire.'..." https://books.google.com/books?id=L7ZDo_sjOFMC&pg=PA50

Suppose Lincoln had the essay published? As it was, he had to face charges that he was an "open scoffer at Christianity." https://books.google.com/books?id=L7ZDo_sjOFMC&pg=PA117 Had the essay been published, would it ruin his future political career? At the very least, it seems to me, he would have to repudiate the "little book" as the work of a young man led astray by Paine and Volney, and say that it no longer reflected his beliefs...

 

[GeographyDude]

"In 1834, Lincoln tried his own hand at writing 'a little Book on Infidelity.' This was probably no more than an essay written on foolscap 'attacking the divinity of Christ — Special inspiration [of the Bible] — Revelation &c.,' . . .

The results to Lincoln’s political career, I’d say are going to be fairly devastating! Especially since it plays off the idea that atheists, free thinkers, etc, are less ethical than average.

* in the 2021 American version of English, the word “infidelity” most commonly means cheating on your marriage partner. Looking across a gulf of more than 150 years, even for the time of the Civil War, I just don’t know about this.

 

[Amadeus]

"In 1834, Lincoln tried his own hand at writing 'a little Book on Infidelity.' This was probably no more than an essay written on foolscap 'attacking the divinity of Christ — Special inspiration [of the Bible] — Revelation &c.,' which he was thinking of sending to a newspaper for publication. The public fury that might descend on his head from such an essay persuaded Lincoln, or least some of his friends, to 'burn it, which was done.' Parthena Hill remembered that her husband actually took it out of his hand and threw it into the fire.'..." https://books.google.com/books?id=L7ZDo_sjOFMC&pg=PA50

Suppose Lincoln had the essay published? As it was, he had to face charges that he was an "open scoffer at Christianity." https://books.google.com/books?id=L7ZDo_sjOFMC&pg=PA117 Had the essay been published, would it ruin his future political career? At the very least, it seems to me, he would have to repudiate the "little book" as the work of a young man led astray by Paine and Volney, and say that it no longer reflected his beliefs...

The butterflies may lead to Seward prevailing at the 1860 Republican Convention (as he nearly did IOTL). Seward had some ridiculous ideas, including but not limited to starting a war with Spain in order to unite the North and South.