"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes" (Letter to von Humboldt, 1813)
"Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined, and imprisoned, yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half of the world fools and the other half hypocrites." (Notes on Virginia)
“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
2006-10-22 11:02:53 · 10 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It certainly sounds like Jefferson advocated separation of Church and State! I am a Christian, and I believe in separation of Church and State too. God wants and needs the willing heart.
2006-10-22 12:39:48 · answer #1 · answered by Brigid O' Somebody 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thanks for your quotes. Thomas Jefferson was aware of how religious power can corrupt and be abusive to civil freedoms. As was some of the religious powers that did some evil things.
I believe Thomas Jefferson is a born again Christian in heaven looking at your question, and he made known some evils done when people don't have religious freedoms.
This led to the 1st amendment and the letter that he also wrote "separation of church & state" in.
There should be no law to burn, torture, fine or imprison because a person believes in twenty gods or no gods. Also, I would include one God.
The legitimate powers of Government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. That covers it.
I love President Bush and I love Thomas Jefferson. People just have to read history about how innocent people who were killed for their faith or religion to know that religious power corrupts. Just look at Islam today.
2006-10-22 18:28:58 · answer #2 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have quoted many times on Yahoo that so many of our founding fathers were Deists, and not Christians. I used Jefferson, and Ben Franklin, as two examples. I could add more to the list. They did not mean for this to be a Christian country, but a free country for all religions.
When Christians start trying to change our Constitution and laws to fit their agenda------it is scary. And, with Bush as president, this is happening.
Jefferson was an ideal person when it came to religion.
2006-10-22 18:08:59 · answer #3 · answered by Shossi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, Thomas Jefferson, the best president not named Washington in the history of the United States, is dead. Long live his causes.
2006-10-22 18:23:34 · answer #4 · answered by Sparkiplasma 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Deism is my favorite outlook on God. Were I a theist, I would be a Deist. Jefferson may not have been altogether a fantastic person, but at least he made some amount of sense.
2006-10-22 18:06:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the fall of man have been invaded and killed by conquering Armies and tribes that had no religion or a different one than Christianity.
2006-10-22 18:12:33 · answer #6 · answered by WhyNotAskDonnieandMarie 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
An intelligent man. I hear how America was founded on Christianity and nothing could be further from the truth.
2006-10-22 18:05:55 · answer #7 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
One of his newest ones to describe the last six years would be "Fools deserve to have a fool lead them."
2006-10-22 18:04:50 · answer #8 · answered by Niche Jerk 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
He was a wise man. More people should listen to him.
2006-10-22 18:08:09 · answer #9 · answered by The Chaos Within 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he runs in '08, he'll get my vote.
2006-10-22 18:11:31 · answer #10 · answered by anyone 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋