For this special Fourth of July episode of High Questions, Sober Answers, I take a moment to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Anniversaries give us an opportunity to pause, reflect, and appreciate the generations that came before us, the freedoms we enjoy today, and the responsibility we share in shaping the future.

Whether your reflections are centered on history, family, service, or simply gratitude, I hope this Independence Day offers a chance to appreciate how far we've come while remembering that every generation contributes a new chapter to the American story.

Happy 250th Birthday, America—and Happy Fourth of July!

In the first episode of a new series, I begin exploring the life of young George Washington by going back to the historical record. Over the years, stories have been told about Washington surviving battle under extraordinary circumstances and receiving a remarkable prophecy from a Native American chief. But what evidence actually exists, and what do the original sources say?

Rather than relying on retellings, this series follows the documents themselves. In this episode, I begin examining the historical record surrounding Washington's early military experiences and the accounts that have shaped these enduring stories.

Primary sources discussed in this episode:

• George Washington's letter to John Augustine:
Founders Online – Letter to John Augustine Washington (18 July 1755)

• Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington (full text):
Internet Archive – Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington

In this episode of the George Washington series, I begin examining George Washington's own writings to better understand his religious beliefs. Rather than relying on later interpretations, I read his Circular Letter to the States and highlight every place where he refers to—or clearly alludes to—a higher being.

As I work through the document, I ask a simple question: What does Washington's own language tell us about what he believed? Was he a deist, an atheist, an agnostic, or something else entirely? This episode marks the beginning of that investigation by letting Washington speak for himself.

If you'd like to read the letter yourself, you can find it here:

George Washington's Circular Letter to the States (1783)

In this episode, I continue my primary-source analysis of George Washington's religious beliefs by examining his 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation.

Using the same methodology established in the previous episode, I analyze Washington's language to identify explicit references and implicit allusions to a higher being. Comparing this document with his earlier writings allows for an initial assessment of whether his expressions of faith remain consistent over time.

While no final conclusions are drawn in this episode a hypothesis is offered as the evidence examined thus far begins to reveal a more defined picture of Washington's religious worldview. The investigation will continue with his later writings to determine whether these patterns persist throughout the remainder of his life.

Read the Thanksgiving Proclamation for yourself:

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation (1789)

In this episode of The Problem With George Washington, I continue my primary-source analysis of George Washington's religious beliefs by examining his Farewell Address.

Using the same methodology established in previous episodes, I identify Washington's explicit references and implicit allusions to a higher being and compare them with the language found in his earlier writings. In addition to its political significance, the Farewell Address provides another opportunity to evaluate the consistency of Washington's religious expressions as he prepared to leave public office.

With each document, the evidence becomes more complete, allowing patterns to emerge while still avoiding conclusions that extend beyond what the historical record can support. The investigation will continue by examining additional writings from later in Washington's life.

Read the Farewell Address for yourself:

George Washington's Farewell Address

One additional note: you'll hear my puppy, Asher, making several appearances throughout this episode—chewing on water bottles, chasing the cats, barking, and generally reminding me that life doesn't pause for research. I left those moments in intentionally. They're part of the environment in which these conversations happen so enjoy the magical sounds of nature as I try to train my puppy to not be a giant monster =)

In this final episode of The Question of George Washington, I conclude my primary-source analysis of George Washington's religious beliefs by examining his Last Will and Testament before bringing together the evidence collected throughout the series.

Using the same methodology applied to each document, I examine Washington's final written references and compare them with the language found in his earlier letters, proclamations, and public addresses. With the documentary record now spanning much of his adult life, I summarize the patterns that emerged and discuss what Washington's own writings can—and cannot—reasonably support regarding his religious beliefs.

Rather than relying on historical labels or later interpretations, this investigation has focused on the historical record itself, allowing Washington's own words to serve as the primary evidence.

Read George Washington's Last Will and Testament here:

George Washington's Last Will and Testament (1799)

After spending time immersed in historical documents and research, I found myself returning to church for the first time in quite a while. In this episode of High Questions, Sober Answers, I share that experience, what it felt like to walk back through those doors, and some of the thoughts that stayed with me afterward.

What surprised me most wasn't the service itself, but what I noticed after I left. Over the next several hours and days, I experienced a number of physical and mental changes that caught me completely by surprise. I don't have an explanation for them, and that's really the point of this episode. I'm simply sharing what happened and documenting the experience as honestly as I can.

Before beginning my next series on the historical Jesus, I wanted to take a moment to share this part of my own journey. Whether you've had similar experiences, very different ones, or you're simply curious, I hope you'll join me for the conversation.

In this episode of High Questions, Sober Answers, I begin a new historical investigation by introducing the field known as Historical Jesus Studies.

Before examining ancient sources or drawing conclusions, it's important to understand how historians approach the life of Jesus as a subject of historical inquiry. What questions are they trying to answer? What methods do they use? What kinds of evidence are considered, and where are the limits of what history can tell us?

This episode serves as the foundation for the series that follows. In the coming episodes, I'll examine the primary sources commonly discussed in Historical Jesus Studies—including both Christian and non-Christian writings—and evaluate what each can reasonably contribute to our understanding of Jesus of Nazareth.

Sources:

Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus

Mark Allan Powell, Historical Jesus Studies Today

Society of Biblical Literature, Jesus and His Teachings