Would Thomas Jefferson see Evangelical/Fundametalist Christianity as a threat to American civilizes society?

Question

Thomas Jefferson said:

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

This is one of our founding fathers encouraging progress. New truths have formed and opinions have changed on issues like same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, birth control and abortion - would the founders have wanted us to "keep pace with the times" and make laws that reflect our new wisdom, regardless of what the Bible says?

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson would probably have seen any religion which attempts to be endorsed by the government through the rule of law, as a direct attack on the core values of the country he helped found. Evangelical organizations are highly political, and in my opinion are a direct threat to unbiased leadership in our government.....as are all special interest groups who throw millions at legislative initiatives.

The government cannot give favor to any particular religious ideology, through law. Like requiring by law that children recite the national anthem before class...because it has the word "GOD" in it. This is where people get confused with "seperation of church and state"... Nowhere does it say that members of the government cannot adhere to their own moral beliefs which are based on religious ideology, and make decisions regarding laws based on their own ideology. They just can't make a law to punish or reward people for being or not being adherent to a religious ideology.

Furthermore we are seeing challenges to many other old principles and practices, based on exactly what you mentioned..."changing of the times". There has been talk of removing "in god we trust" from money. Not just from people who do not believe in god..but from religious people as well. The anti-religous argument is that the government shoudn't endorse god on money. The pro-religious argument as I understand it...is that the government should not claim the endorsement of god for capitalist practices. Parts of the bible show Jesus's extreme distaste for all things monetary.

Society is evolving and opinions are changing on both sides of every fence. Thank "god" that the founding fathers knew something that most of our politicians do not know today. Above all things they knew for certain, that they did not know everything for certain...so they had to draft a document that could be changed if it needed to, to adapt to changes in society.

Answer 2

Jefferson was a religious man himself. His own beliefs were very different from modern fundamentalism, but I think he would think that everyone should be free to choose his own beliefs, whatever seemed reasonable to him.

But I think the purpose of the separation between church and state was not to protect the state from the church, but vice versa. To protect religious teachings and doctrines from being infiltrated by political beliefs -disguised- as religious beliefs.

And today, as the wall between church and state is crumbling, we see this very thing happening. More and more of what Christians are taught in church is political, not Biblical. I think this is very sad, and also frightening if the trend continues. It's just too easy for politicians to push their ideas as God's Will. I think people of faith should examine what they are told more carefully

Answer 3

yes and no the founders were about freedom and were also Christians despite keeping it secret, at the same time you have a good point about the downfall of out society, we were taught to love one another but to many people are thinking it's ok not to include God in this they are gravely mistaken. I think if Jefferson could see the lack of faith we have today he would have made it clearer what he and the others meant about seperation of church and state. Meaning the church wouldn't control the government but didn't mean to keep prayer out of schools etc...

Answer 4

It's just ironic how this country was founded to escape religiously-biased law, and the Constitution was written to prevent those laws from being passed. People fought and died to escape a church-based government. Now we're changing our own Constitution to pass religiously-biased laws. It's sad really.

Answer 5

Jefferson's religious world was predominantly Evangelical Protestant ,so he would not have a problem "dealing with them' even as a Deistic Unitarian Anglican. Jefferson thought a great deal of Natural Law so he could well have been an opponent of abortion,"embryocide","gay marriage" and the like . Jefferson could not extricate himself from slavery ,though.

Answer 6

Who cares?

Most of the founding fathers of the USA were Bible believing Christians. All except four.

Pastor Art

Answer 7

Yes, he saw it as that, and Thomas Jefferson also saw a slave woman as a "lover," but didn't love her enough to free her from the bondage of slavery. I wouldn't depend on his opinion, (and that's all it is), to form yours.

Answer 8

I am quite sure he would. He found the really radical ones a threat when he was alive, I can't see it being any different now.

Answer 9

this is a crock of lies.
Jefferson, wrote a letter telling congress..not to forece it WAY..onto the church..keeping government out of church.
but..also said..church must be IN GOVERNMENT..so that the biblical SPIRITUAL principles..keep tyrrannt OUT of governement.
with only 10% gay population in USA..why are they forcing us, to toss out, GOD mandated that our forefather written, in ALL of our LAWS..at birth of this nation.
there were 52 out of 55 evangelists who sign the bill of righteousness..the consitution..and so forth..since.
why are ALL not some..but ALL national monuments of that era states a biblical spiritual wisdom, or principles.
gay and abortion DESTROY a nation. cutting babies up before birth is still murder..not a choice of delete a mail...gays, if they want sex with a butthole..so be it..but don't go preaching how great it is! when it is disguesting..as eating ****, drinking piss..or golden shower, as part of their pervertiness.and they bring in AIDS to the world..killing babies today..again..when man abondon spiritual rules of wisdom of the bible..man became barbaric as life before Christ. aboandon the bible..is ababon the spiritual guide of long life, in wealth and health..WHY is america losing its wealth and so forth?
becauase it abandon the biblical foundation of our nation.
we reaps what we sown..corruption in educaction..in business..to homes..in media..on the road..everywhere..there are more barabaric drives..teachers..coach..boxer..singers..ect..going to extreme..is what destroy a nation..ten commandments is a conviction of..you'll die..if you don't obey it.
well..america is dying.by it sins..and sins bring diseases..and death..and poverty..if you had not notice of this..since 60's. america was booming after the world wars.

'why are we behind japam? china? europe?
because..we've become stupid..in the spiritual principles of the words of GOD..bring us wealth..creative invention or the WILL to create..we can't barely mustard to create a better city, or war with poverty, wealth for the poor who need schooling..a place to live..but no..corruption enter in..and the love of money..(spiritual principles warn against this.and hell on earth comes..and here it is..starting here in usa..for soee time) big business..congress getting fat..give poor less benefits..blah blah..you know the rest..again..love of money..is the root/foundation of ALL SORTS OF FVIL..money is good..when the owner of money is GOOD..(biblical teaching does that) wicked heart with money..bring corruption.gred..destroy natural resoruces..on and on.
our forefather would cried and anger..but..a new earth is coming..after man had it full of wickedness..and it just starting...it will geet worst..if christina rule the government..things would be better..truly would.but can't be the piety christians..that is pride.

Answer 10

of course, just like any other true philosopher/politicians would. too bad there are none of those today, only greedy lawyers and businessmen.