However, since you quote Jefferson, let’s take some stories from the Monticello website on his religious beliefs and life beliefs: https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/jeffersons-religious-beliefs
Glad to, they only bolster my point that Jefferson saw that government was for making laws and not for supporting or trumpeting religion, in any way. You think T Jeff would want creationism taught in school? --- In summation, he has always stuck me as a man that was unparalleled in his ability to be forward thinking. The fact that many people see what the founders set forth as concrete would seem baffling to Jefferson. He knew that he couldn't foretell what was to come. I think of the following quote often these days in regard to so many policy debates, especially "the right to bear arms," It is so obvious to me why christian conservatives see the constitution as gospel and the founders as gods, they're believers. There is an inherent need to "believe." I came across an interesting quote from Bukowski recently, "The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence." -Jefferson wasn't stupid... but we're living in a world full of stupid right now, which is scary stuff. Regarding Jefferson and religion. It seems to me that Jefferson adored Christ's teachings but didn't see Christ as a "god" or a "miracle worker." That stuff was silly to him. The teachings were enough. Regarding separation of church and state, his statements support that he saw governments role to be one of ensuring harm wasn't done to individuals but saw no harm in someone believing, not believing etc. That the government would teach or promote any particular belief system seems counter to what he would have wanted. He was a progressive, extremely intelligent fella. Imagine what he would think about politics today?"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. ... Reason and free enquiry are the only effectual agents against error
He also rejected the idea of the divinity of Christ, but as he writes to William Short on October 31, 1819, he was convinced that the fragmentary teachings of Jesus constituted the "outlines of a system of the most sublime morality which has ever fallen from the lips of man."
-My goodness, I wish more "christians" were like Jefferson in their approach. It's not the miracles, the eucharist, the father, son and holy spirit that matter. IT'S THE TEACHINGS. THE LESSONS HE PUT FORTH! Man, oh man, how different would the world be if it were the teachings and the philosophy of Jesus Christ we focused on instead of the death and "resurrection" of him? But fear fills pews and the promise of eternal life conveniently answers the oldest question. he recognized the novelty of his own religious beliefs. On June 25, 1819, he wrote to Ezra Stiles Ely, "I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know."
"The question [w]hether one generation of men has a right to bind another. . . is a question of such consequences as not only to merit decision, but place also among the fundamental principles of every government. . . . I set out on this ground, which I suppose to be self-evident, 'that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living'
-Read that last bit over and over again to yourself. It seems simple, but it's pretty damned amazing. It takes a great mind to be that forward thinking and humble. We all need to appreciate our founders, but we tend to make "gods" out of them and gospel out of their work.
Yes, as most Diests would; no question. As to the "Wall of Separation", his intent (and the backdrop and meaning) was for a government NOT to endorse one particular sect or denomination thus establishing a state sponsored religion like the Church of England. He was also an ardent supporter of the "free exercise thereof" which is increasingly being restricted by the State sponsored religion of atheism and agnosticism. Atheism, in the strictest sense of the word, is a religion in itself with MAN as the object of worship ( I am the sole determinant of right and wrong and I am an end unto myself). Jefferson would never agree with the modern day "tyranny" of imposing government sponsored censorship and imposition of anti- religious values on the "free exercise" of those religious values as we see happening in the courts and government administrative state entities as we see in today's political climate. There is another post in the Hubski newsletter about the "intolerance of the left" ( by a left leaning person) that is appropriate in this setting. In concluding, many focus only on Jefferson for historical context, but forget the other 55 individuals responsible for our founding. It seems we "pick and choose" which ones we want to quote in order to uphold our personal world view instead of taking in the whole body of history and evidence that might be contradict ice to Jefferson's personal beliefs. He, by the way, was an ardent "church goer" which, many times, is completely left out of the narrative . Records of Thomas Jefferson's church-going habits are far from complete. However, evidence does exist of his involvement with and attendance at local churches throughout his life. His accounts record donations to a number of different churches in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and in Charlottesville.4 As a young man, Jefferson served as a vestryman in Fredericksville Parish (Albemarle County).5 Margaret Bayard Smith, in her memoir The First Forty Years of Washington Society, recalled: "During the first winter, Mr. Jefferson regularly attended service on the sabbath-day in the humble church. The congregation seldom exceeded 50 or 60, but generally consisted of about a score of hearers. He could have had no motive for this regular attendance, but that of respect for public worship, choice of place or preacher he had not, as this, with the exception of a little Catholic chapel was the only church in the new city. The custom of preaching in the Hall of Representatives had not then been attempted, though after it was established Mr. Jefferson during his whole administration, was a most regular attendant. The seat he chose the first sabbath, and the adjoining one, which his private secretary occupied, were ever afterwards by the courtesy of the congregation, left for him and his secretary."6 Henry S. Randall, who interviewed Jefferson's family members for his three-volume Life of Thomas Jefferson, claimed that Jefferson "attended church with as much regularity as most of the members of the congregation - sometimes going alone on horseback, when his family remained at home."7