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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Religion In The Military Jefferson Bible reveals Founding Father's view of God, faith|
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Experienced Member |
Jefferson Bible reveals Founding Father's view of God, faith
Nation's third president compiled the four Gospels into a single text without miracles that ends with Jesus' burial rather than the resurrection. July 5, 2008 Making good on a promise to a friend to summarize his views on Christianity, Thomas Jefferson set to work with scissors, snipping out every miracle and inconsistency he could find in the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Then, relying on a cut-and-paste technique, he reassembled the excerpts into what he believed was a more coherent narrative and pasted them onto blank paper -- alongside translations in French, Greek and Latin. In a letter sent from Monticello to John Adams in 1813, Jefferson said his "wee little book" of 46 pages was based on a lifetime of inquiry and reflection and contained "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man." He called the book "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth." Friends dubbed it the Jefferson Bible. It remains perhaps the most comprehensive expression of what the nation's third president and prin****l author of the Declaration of Independence found ethically interesting about the Gospels and their depiction of Jesus. "I have performed the operation for my own use," he continued, "by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging the matter, which is evidently his and which is as easily distinguished as diamonds in a dunghill." The little leather-bound tome, several facsimiles of which are kept at the Huntington Library in San Marino, continues to fascinate scholars exploring the powerful and varied relationships between the Founding Fathers and the most sacred book of the Western World. The big question now, said Lori Anne Ferrell, a professor of early modern history and literature at Claremont Graduate University, is this: "Can you imagine the reaction if word got out that a president of the United States cut out Bible passages with scissors, glued them onto paper and said, 'I only believe these parts?' " "He was a product of his age," said Ferrell, whose upcoming book, "The Bible and the People," includes a chapter on the Jefferson Bible. "Yet, he is the least likely person I'd want to pray with. He was more skeptical about religion than the other Founding Fathers." In Jefferson's version of the Gospels, for example, Jesus is still wrapped in swaddling clothes after his birth in Bethlehem. But there's no angel telling shepherds watching their flocks by night that a savior has been born. Jefferson retains Jesus' crucifixion but ends the text with his burial, not with the resurrection. Stripping miracles from the story of Jesus was among the ambitious projects of a man with a famously restless mind. At 71, he read Plato's "Republic" in the original Greek and found it lackluster. Ever the scientist, he inoculated his wife, children and many of his slaves against smallpox with fresh pus drawn from infected domestic farm animals, according to Robert C. Ritchie, W.M. Keck Foundation director of research at the Huntington Library. "For a lot of people, taking scissors to the Bible would be such an act of desecration they wouldn't do it," Ritchie said. "Yet, it gives a reading into Jefferson's take on the Bible, which was not as divine word put into print, but as a book that can be cut up." Jefferson, a tall vigorous man who preferred Thucydides and Cicero to the newspapers of his day, was not the only 18th century leader who questioned traditional Christian teachings. Like many other upper-class, educated citizens of the new republic, including George Washington, Jefferson was a deist. Deists differed from traditional Christians by rejecting miraculous occurrences and prophecies and embracing the notion of a well-ordered universe created by a God who withdrew into detached transcendence. Critics of the time regarded deism as an ill-conceived attempt to reconcile religion with scientific discoveries. For rationalists in the Age of Enlightenment, deism was one of many efforts to liberate humankind from what the deists viewed as superstitious beliefs. Jefferson was a particular fan of Joseph Priestley, a scientist, ordained minister and one of Jefferson's friends. Priestley -- who discovered oxygen and invented carbonated water and the rubber eraser -- published books that infamously cast a critical eye upon biblical miracles. Jefferson was particularly fond of Preistley's comparison of the lives and teachings of Socrates and Jesus. Discussions and letters between Jefferson and another friend, Philadelphia physician Benjamin Rush, led Jefferson to compile his "wee little book." In a letter to Rush on April 21, 1803, Jefferson said his editing experiment aimed to see whether the ethical teachings of Jesus could be separated from elements he believed were attached to Christianity over the centuries. "To the corruption of Christianity I am indeed opposed," he wrote to Rush, "but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself." Therefore, Ritchie said, "for Jefferson, the Bible was a book that could be made and unmade." The Jefferson Bible remained largely unknown beyond a close circle of relatives and friends until 1904, when its publication was ordered by Congress. About 9,000 copies were issued and distributed in the Senate and the House. Today several editions of the Jefferson Bible are available through booksellers. A few online versions exist, including one on the website of the Jefferson Monticello, www.monticello.org/library/links/jefferson.html. It is hard to say whether Jefferson would have objected to publication of the book. "Say nothing of my religion," Jefferson once said. "It is known to myself and my God alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life; if that has been honest and dutiful to society, the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one." http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beliefs5-2008jul05,0,7730914.story |
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Member |
If my knowledge is correct, didn't he cut out the book of Revelation completely? That book appears to be written by someone under the influence of some whacky-tabbacky!
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Experienced Member |
It may be that the book of revelations was written under what may be loosly termed less than ideal circumstances but what everybody misses is the fact that it offers the most profound promises in the Bible.......
The readings from the book of life in which are recorded all the deeds of all those who have ever lived it tells of indomitable mercy showed them who lived as if the words of God were written on their heart even if they had never heard His name!! Those words should bring hope and comfort, to all human beings everywhere, and instead, what do we constantly hear?? Anger, fire, death and destruction,never ending punishment, a casting out of the iniquitous of Satan and all the other things, that keep us from falling at the feet of God in overwhelming love for His mercy. Read it that way and maybe the promise will help you to understand, what fear does to people, when they figure they have no chance anyway, so why not behave like idiots!! Do what you want!! God's going to kill us all anyway!! If He's really there at all!! Just some different thoughts for a Sunday morning......Hmmmmm??? T |
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Basic Training |
Since we're talking about Jefferson's religious views:
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2008/07/bush_edits_out_jeffersons_reli.php
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"I love the smell of Brown Water in the morning" |
All the effort put into dispelling the idea that this is a Christian country founded on Christian ideals is a waste of time. It's probably true that many of the Founding Fathers were not Born Again, Evangelical Christians as we know them today, none-the-less they considered themselves Christians. That is little different from the Christian Church today where we have a multitude of doctrines. Although wrong, there are those today that question the resurrection, the miracles and doubt the Book of Revelation, yet still consider themselves to be Christians. This country was founded on the most basic of Christian Ideals found in the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, etc. A country blessed by God, offering Freedom, Liberty, the Right to Life and the Pursuit of Happiness. Trying to prove otherwise is a futile effort based on the individual rather than collective beliefs of the Founders which produced the end result(the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc). Isn't it ironic that those who spend so much time trying to refute these things are still able to enjoy the freedoms with apparently no idea where (or Who) they came from. "Give them eyes and they still will not see".
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Member |
What is funny, to me, is that some people truly believe that these ideals are ONLY in the abrahamic religions, and in none others. That in itself is false. Many of these ideals are in other religions, too. And remember, many of the founding fathers were deists - not your typical christians. |
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SUSPENDED MEMBER S_S  FIVE TIGERS |
DragonRider01 some of the founding fathers were not your typical christians....but nthey were still Christian... |
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Basic Training |
It is quite ironic. Our government was established in 1787 when the Constitution was ratified. The question as to whether our government was based on Christianity was asked and answered in 1796, by the same generation (and many of the same people) who created the government in the first place. Article XI of the Treaty with Tripoli says: "As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..." The treaty passed the Senate; not only did it pass, it was passed unanimously, only the third unanimous Senate vote out of the first 300. When announcing the signing of the Treaty, the President (Adams) twice made reference to 'every article.' The treaty was printed in three major newspapers, in full, without angry letters to the editor or any editorial opinions or any other hint of controversy. The U.S. is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. Two centuries of lying for Jesus cannot change that. (Most of the above details were found here.) |
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SUSPENDED MEMBER S_S FIVE TIGERS |
I do believe at that time the Catholic Church was in control... |
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Basic Training |
The United States Government is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. It can't be any clearer. |
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Experienced Member |
In constrol of what?? The first settlers were Protestant. Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers. Many British settlers were Anglican (Church of England), what we call the Episcopal church in the US. In fact, I believe that only Maryland was founded as a refuge for Roman Catholics. Lord Baltimore, who first received a charter for "St. Mary's Land" was a Roman Catholic, a religion which was extremely stimatized in England (a hangover from the Reformation), "Maryland soon became one of the few predominantly Catholic regions among the English colonies in America. Maryland was also one of the key destinations for tens of thousands of British convicts punished by sentences of transportation, which carried on until independence. The Maryland Toleration Act, issued in 1649, was one of the first laws that explicitly tolerated varieties of religion (as long as it was Christian), and is sometimes seen as a precursor to the First Amendment." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Maryland So much for Catholics being "in control".  WT, have you ever considered actually looking up FACTS before you post? Even I know this history - I learned it in grade school.  This message has been edited. Last edited by: Arielski, |
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SUSPENDED MEMBER S_S FIVE TIGERS |
Catholic hierarchy that the Protestant separated from...Protestant/protest...of course there were Catholics among the English colonies...DUH... |
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Experienced Member |
Catholic hierarchy that the Protestant separated from...Protestant/protest...of course there were Catholics among the English colonies...DUH...[/QUOTE] That is hardly the same as the Catholic Church being "in control" of religion in the American colonies. As previously posted, there was ONE predominately Catholic colony, and it specified, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN COLONIAL HISTORY, a policy of religious for all Christian denominations. Duh back at you, WT. BTW, why do you have such a biased view of the Roman Catholic church that you are willing to distort American history to claim such falsehoods? This message has been edited. Last edited by: Arielski, |
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SUSPENDED MEMBER S_S FIVE TIGERS |
Arielski the colonies that settled in the 13 left their countries in and around Europe because of the religioue persecution by the church...I didn't say the Catholic church controled the colonies...and I also know all of the peoples of the 13 were not only from England...you have Holland, Scottland you know the rest right...  |
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Experienced Member |
WT, your exact words were "I do believe at that time the Catholic Church was in control..." Now, if you intended to say that many communities, from many countries, settled in the colonies to avoid religious persecution, you are correct. For example, the Hugeunots, who were indeed persecuted by the Catholic church in France, gave rise a variety of Calvinist-inspired Protestant denominations, including the Dutch Reformed Church. A brief, but interesting history is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huguenot OTOH, the Society of Friends (Quakers) were persecuted both in England by the (Protestant) Church of England, and in the new colonies, by the Puritans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_history That is just a brief review of the creation of different Christian denominations. Perhaps Tawodi and others can elucidate us about the colonial history of other Protestant denominations, such as Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc. Here is another link, the the migration of members of the Anabaptist sects - Amish, Mennonites, Hudderites, etc, who also faced home-grown histility from other Protestant groups in the US. http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish2.htm |
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SUSPENDED MEMBER S_S FIVE TIGERS |
OK Arielski you win...  ...but the protesters did move to get away from you know who... |
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Experienced Member |
Mention should also be made of Jefferson's lively correspondence with John Adams on the subject of Christianity and the validity of scripture:
http://www.positiveliberty.com/2005/10/john-adams-unita...er-of-the-truth.html |
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Experienced Member |
...but the protesters did move to get away from you know who...
[/QUOTE] True.. it's too bad they were under the sway of that vicious anti-Semite, Martin Luther. |
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SUSPENDED MEMBER S_S FIVE TIGERS |
Arielski this is true...sad but true...and when the time comes we will all know for sure why HaShem allowed the course to run as it did...Shalom |
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