"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities"
"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make half the world fools and half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the world" - Thomas Jefferson
I'd like to see some actual proof saying our Founding Father was a Christian and not Deist/Freemason?
Sources:
Merrill D. Peterson, ed., Thomas Jefferson: Writings (1984), p. 347
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson#Religious_views
2007-06-17 03:26:28 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Father K, please site your sources, if you wouldn't mind.
2007-06-17 03:33:46 · update #1
Unlike your fellow Christians, I don't take second hand information as proof.
So by all means, break out the proof.
2007-06-17 03:35:33 · update #2
1) Jefferson was Baptized as an Anglican.
2) Jefferson did indeed have some Deist leanings.
3) There is NO evidence that Jefferson was ever an initiated member of any Masonic Lodge.
Ergo, methinks it is YOU that needs to read up on American history.
2007-06-17 03:32:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
You know, for every time one of you guys posts that "quote" from Thomas Jefferson, someone from the other side posts another quote directly contradicting the first one quoted. Either someone's lying, misquoting badly, or Jefferson was a nutjob who spoke with a forked tongue. Now, which is it?
As for the Masonic thing, there were so many Masons among the founding fathers they could've started their own Lodge.
2007-06-17 10:36:03 · answer #2 · answered by RIFF 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if people worried as much about their own beliefs as they do trying to convince everyone else that they are wrong then maybe those burnings and tortures wouldn't have. the wars and beheadings and forced conversions that are happening is wrong on so many levels and lets get something straight its not just Christians who are guilty of this the Muslims have blood on their hands as well, i don't understand how any religion can believe that a person converted by the threat of death is truly a convert,a man converted against his will is not truly converted now is he.
2007-06-17 10:55:56 · answer #3 · answered by windwalker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree, freedom of Choice is the most important freedom in my opinion. That is why I have always respected people's choices. I am not here to judge or criticize, just let others see my beliefs and to learn from others. Our founding fathers were awesome and very intelligent men. Thanks for the question and have a great day!! As for whether he was a Christian, since he isn't around to tell us, only God knows for sure.
2007-06-17 10:35:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is a bunch of garbage. Civilized countries like the USA don't allow discrimination for religious reasons. Only 3rd world, backward countries allow religious discrimination. And it is mostly Christians who are being discriminated against. Grow up and be thankful for your freedom of religion. Which by the way also means freedom from religion.
Kisses BB
2007-06-17 10:38:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Was it the Christians killing all these people? Or was it really the Catholic Church killing these people? Do you even know the difference between the two?
The Catholic Church has killed over 60 million people in the last 1000 years. Most of them were Christians. Did you know this? Apparently not. Most people just don't study history. Communism (atheistic socialism) has killed more people than Christianity. Paganism has killed more people that Christianity. And don't try throwing that pagan universalist, false Christian, George W. Bush and his supporters into this as if they represent Biblical Christianity.
The evidece of your statements shows that you are ignorant of Christian History and have a hatred for Jesus Christ and his teachings, wether you realize it or not.
2007-06-17 10:40:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Jefferson, as well as many of our founding fathers, were not Christians. They were smart enough to realize that a belief in God was necessary to satisfy the mostly religious masses in this country. That is why we have the right to worship who we please.
2007-06-17 10:34:49 · answer #7 · answered by Concerned 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I couldn't care less what his religion or his social affiliations were. Or, for that matter, anything else that was his own personal business. His public statements and writings, including that one, were profoundly intelligent and correct. And for me, that's what counts. He stood up for liberty.
2007-06-17 10:37:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
So? It's not like I expect everyone on earth to become a Christian. I know how unrealistic that is.
2007-06-17 10:32:52 · answer #9 · answered by Hannah 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even if you find his name on the church membership rolls in some Virginia archives, his words speak for themselves about what he believes.
2007-06-17 10:30:48 · answer #10 · answered by jaicee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋