There's little doubt that the philosophers(ies) of the day were influencing the religious beliefs of the day. Also just as unlikely that one can read the writings of those involved in the founding of our country and the structuring of its government and conclude that these were a bunch of atheists.

Sure, you can take isolated writings (like Franklin's f'rinstance) and conclude that at least some of them were not Christians by a modern day definition.

...neither were that rationalists by a modern day definition (meaning that they did not accept the modern notion that rational thought would lead to naturalism -- rather, they thought that rational thought, and a unified world view would lead to spiritual enlightenment -- a "religious" outcome).

I'm coming away from this discussion pleasantly heartened.