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Editors’ Pick

January 29, 2026

Mark Twain, Man of God

Although hailed by atheists, the philo-Semitic humorist was in fact deeply religious.

More than once, Mosaic has mentioned Mark Twain’s philo-Semitism and his admiration for Jewish efforts to resettle the Land of Israel. But what were the great American author’s actual religious beliefs? He made many comments and arguments critical of religion and of Christian institutions, and some prominent atheists have claimed him as one of their own. But Dwayne Eutsey presents a radically different approach, based in part on manuscripts that came to light long after Twain’s death:

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