There is no better example of this historical quandary, which
surrounds virtually every aspect of Washington’s life, than that
of his religious beliefs. For nearly two centuries, Americans
have fought over Washington’s personal theological philosophy in
an effort to “claim” him as their own. Whether in the form of a
politician, historian, minister, etc., the religious beliefs of
George Washington have been subjected to the fires of partisan
debate and spiritual deliberation. There are a number of reasons
that Washington stands out from his fellow founders. First of
all is the simple fact that most of the other mainstream
founders -- Franklin, Madison, Jefferson, Adams, etc. -- are
relatively easy to understand in terms of their religious
beliefs. Washington, however, is a different story. As a man who
“developed the most notorious model of self-control in all of
American history,” Washington has been dubbed “the original
marble man” for his desire for personal privacy and mystery
(Joseph Ellis, His Excellency