2007-02-14 09:42:37 · 10 answers · asked by irishumanist 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
He was a man whose religious leanings were rather complex. He is often considered a deist. He also produced the so-called "Jefferson Bible", in which much of the traditional canon was removed. However one wishes to look at him, he wasn't a Fundamentalist of the modern-day variety. He was also quite conversant with the teachings of the mystic, Emanuel Swedenborg, and encouraged Swedenborgian meetings. Some right-wing Christians claim Jefferson for their own; and quite a few non-theists of my acquaintance also hold him as a hero. The question is not so much whether or not he was a Christian, but rather, was he a mainstream Christian? The answer to that would likely be "no".
2007-02-14 09:57:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
IrisHuman,
Only if he was a repented Christian. You have to realize Thomas Jefferson father 3 children by his Black Slave (Sally), Sally was the only slave in the history of Black Slavery to wear shoes because of his love for her, you also have to remember that Thomas Jefferson was a married man while having an affair with his slave. So I would say that unless he was a repented man, there is no-way he could have been a Christian.
2007-02-14 10:01:17 · answer #2 · answered by Lil bit 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a christian, but here's what he said about himself:
A short time before his death, Jefferson, in a letter to John Adams, after commending the morals of Jesus, wrote as follows concerning his philosophical belief:
"It is not to be understood that I am with him [Jesus] in all his doctrines. I am a Materialist."
2007-02-14 10:12:15 · answer #3 · answered by Kallan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
Author - Thomas Jefferson
Perpetrator of the Tyranny - Organized Christian Religion
2007-02-14 10:34:25 · answer #4 · answered by Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hard to say. Though many call him a deist, he himself claimed to follow the moral teachings of Jesus, calling them the "pure deism". Some would consider such a man to be a "christian". Wouldn't you?
2007-02-14 09:51:39 · answer #5 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hahaha...I'd like to see a yes answer here.
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2007-02-14 09:46:00 · answer #6 · answered by Seth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought I heard he was deist, or something like that.
2007-02-14 09:45:59 · answer #7 · answered by daisyk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check the book of life. If his name is in there, then he was. If his name is not in there, then he wasn't.
2007-02-14 09:53:06 · answer #8 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe he really was, for whatever that is worth.
2007-02-14 09:50:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes he was!
2007-02-14 09:46:55 · answer #10 · answered by ommie 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋