John Adams studied the bible, embraced some parts, and ridiculed other parts.
"As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?" - letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee consisting of Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, to design the Great Seal of the United States. None of them submitted designs that acknowledged Christianity. On August 14, 1776, Adams wrote a letter to his wife, Abigail, describing the submissions. His made reference to a Greek (pagan) god.
I proposed The Choice of Hercules, as engraved by Gribeline in some Editions of Lord Shaftsburys Works. The Hero resting on his Clubb. Virtue pointing to her rugged Mountain, on one Hand, and perswading him to ascend. Sloth, glancing at her flowery Paths of Pleasure, wantonly reclining on the Ground, displaying the Charms both of her Eloquence and Person, to seduce him into Vice. But this is too complicated a Group for a Seal or Medal, and it is not original.
The design ultimately adopted for the Great Seal of the United States has two Latin phrases from a pagan Roman poem, but no Christian reference.
"Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind." - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America (1787-88)
"Government has no right to hurt a hair on the head of an atheist for his opinions. Let him have a care of his practices." - letter to John Quincy Adams, June 16, 1816
"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved– the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!" - letter to Thomas Jefferson, Sept. 3, 1816