The ambition of Thomas Jefferson
An ambitious man. Although George Washington was our first president, Thomas Jefferson was the one who truly had the vision of America. The man was an architect, an educator, a philosopher, a scientist, an author and a statesman. He read and wrote profusely and prided himself to the fact that the sun never saw him sleep.
He wrote the draft of the Declaration of Independence, was the governor of Virginia, is considered the father of the university of Virginia, was the Secretary of State of the United States of America, the vice-president of America, the third President of America where while in the presidency bought the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon, more than doubling the United States holdings; successfully navigated the first war, or foreign hostility crisis with the Barbary states of northern Africa, among many other things.
Truly an amazing list of feats this man had by the time he died - earning himself a spot on the great National monument Mount Rushmore.
Sadly today many malign this great man's name by claiming him to be anti-religious, anti-christian, atheistic, and/or deistic.
They couldn't be more wrong.
Jefferson, as many of the founders, did indeed despise Churchianity, or the respect of the church structure more than the underlying beliefs. Indeed European history is replete with church leadership gone wild. Jefferson believed many churches were almost anti-christian they went so far.
"The Christian Religion, when divested of the rags in which they (the clergy) have enveloped it, and brought to the original purity and simplicity of its benevolent institutor, is a religion of all others most friendly to liberty, science, and the freest expansion of the human mind." ~Thomas Jefferson
But he did Not, emphatically NOT reject Christianity.
"My views... are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the anti-christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others..." ~Thomas Jefferson.
Over and over Jefferson, in words and deeds, showed his belief that Christianity was true and good - even so far as to say that it should be taught in schools. If that is in doubt, read the Northwest Ordinance, which stated that:
"Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged."
If you do not know what the Northwest Ordinance was, it was the bill that dictated what a territory had to do to become a state - one of which was to institute schools for every so many people per acre.
So highly did Jefferson think of Jesus and his teachings that he compiled a book of Ethics for teaching the "Indians", or Native Americans, which was solely made up of Jesus' teachings. This has misleadingly been named "Jefferson's Bible". It was not his Bible (devoid of all miracles), but just as he stated it to be, a book of Ethics for the benefit of Native Americans. Why? Because...
"Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from his lips, the whole civilized world would now have been Christians.... I have always said, I always will say, that the studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands... 1)The doctrines of Jesus are simple and tend to the happiness of man. 2) There is only one God, and He is all perfect. 3)There is a future state of rewards and punishments. 4)To love God with all the heart and they neighbor as thyself is the sum of all..." ~Thomas Jefferson.
He is said to be the most sacrilegious of the founding fathers. I disagree. None of the founding fathers were sacrilegious. (Except one, but he was a black sheep). But don't believe my words, instead takes his. Read the passion in his words. The words etched forever into the Jefferson memorial.
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." ~Thomas Jefferson
Jared Williams
He wrote the draft of the Declaration of Independence, was the governor of Virginia, is considered the father of the university of Virginia, was the Secretary of State of the United States of America, the vice-president of America, the third President of America where while in the presidency bought the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon, more than doubling the United States holdings; successfully navigated the first war, or foreign hostility crisis with the Barbary states of northern Africa, among many other things.
Truly an amazing list of feats this man had by the time he died - earning himself a spot on the great National monument Mount Rushmore.
Sadly today many malign this great man's name by claiming him to be anti-religious, anti-christian, atheistic, and/or deistic.
They couldn't be more wrong.
Jefferson, as many of the founders, did indeed despise Churchianity, or the respect of the church structure more than the underlying beliefs. Indeed European history is replete with church leadership gone wild. Jefferson believed many churches were almost anti-christian they went so far.
"The Christian Religion, when divested of the rags in which they (the clergy) have enveloped it, and brought to the original purity and simplicity of its benevolent institutor, is a religion of all others most friendly to liberty, science, and the freest expansion of the human mind." ~Thomas Jefferson
But he did Not, emphatically NOT reject Christianity.
"My views... are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the anti-christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others..." ~Thomas Jefferson.
Over and over Jefferson, in words and deeds, showed his belief that Christianity was true and good - even so far as to say that it should be taught in schools. If that is in doubt, read the Northwest Ordinance, which stated that:
"Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged."
If you do not know what the Northwest Ordinance was, it was the bill that dictated what a territory had to do to become a state - one of which was to institute schools for every so many people per acre.
So highly did Jefferson think of Jesus and his teachings that he compiled a book of Ethics for teaching the "Indians", or Native Americans, which was solely made up of Jesus' teachings. This has misleadingly been named "Jefferson's Bible". It was not his Bible (devoid of all miracles), but just as he stated it to be, a book of Ethics for the benefit of Native Americans. Why? Because...
"Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from his lips, the whole civilized world would now have been Christians.... I have always said, I always will say, that the studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands... 1)The doctrines of Jesus are simple and tend to the happiness of man. 2) There is only one God, and He is all perfect. 3)There is a future state of rewards and punishments. 4)To love God with all the heart and they neighbor as thyself is the sum of all..." ~Thomas Jefferson.
He is said to be the most sacrilegious of the founding fathers. I disagree. None of the founding fathers were sacrilegious. (Except one, but he was a black sheep). But don't believe my words, instead takes his. Read the passion in his words. The words etched forever into the Jefferson memorial.
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." ~Thomas Jefferson
Jared Williams
