The Religious Affiliation of Inventor
Edison attended a Congregational church in Ft. Myers, Florida, where he had a winter home. The church was renamed for him and is now the Thomas Edison Congregational Church. This church was one of those which did not join in the merger whch formed the United Church of Christ. The Second Congregational Church of Greenwich in Connecticut has in its archives a letter from Edison containing suggestions for for protecting their 212-foot steeple from lightning strikes.
Edison's wife was a devout Methodist and, early in their marriage, tried to convert him to her religious views, but failed. As for his personal beliefs, Edison made many statements which indicated disbelief on key topics. John P. M. Murphy described Edison's position as "truculent agnosticism." [Source: John Patrick Michael Murphy, "Murphy's Law: Thomas Alva Edison", article on "The Secular Web" (agnostic, atheist website), 1999; URL: http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/john_murphy/edison.html]
Webpage created 1 June 2005. Last modified 1 June 2005.
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