Lincoln's Theocentric Turn

Abstract

In this essay I argue that Abraham Lincoln turned to a theocentric discourse to conceptualize the American Civil War. I attempt to address why he used a theocentric approach to the conceptualization of political problems and what the relationship is between that theocentric approach and his political principles, inspired policy outcomes, and the subsequent nature of American political culture and politics. It is my argument that Lincoln used a theocentric approach to enlarge and enhance his political ideals. As a result of this move, the relationship between the secular and the sacred has been dangerously distorted and liberalism itself, as presented by Lincoln, has been inappropriately sanctified.