Re: vision2020-digest Digest V01 #250

["Mike Rush" <mike.rush@veriomail.com>]

I wish people would read the writings of the people whom they would attach
labels.  This is the first part of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to
Benjamin Rush dated  April 21, 1803.  In it Jefferson, in no uncertain
terms, describes himself as a Christian who subscribes "to the genuine
precepts of Jesus himself ... in the only sense he (Jesus) wished any one to
be".

Please also note his comment on the "anti-Christian system imputed upon me
by others", basically saying all those who refered to him as anti-Christian
were wrong.

"Washington, Apr 21, 1803.
"Dear Sir,--In some of the delightful conversations with you, in the
evenings of 1798--99, and which served as an anodyne to the afflictions of
the crisis through which our country was then laboring, the Christian
religion was sometimes our topic; and I then promised you, that one day or
other, I would give you my views of it. They are the result of a life of
inquiry & reflection, and very different from that anti-Christian system
imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions
of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of
Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense he wished any one to be;
sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing
to himself every human excellence; & believing he never claimed any other.

You can READ the full text and see an image of the original document at
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mtjhtml/mtjhome.html

Any other labels you would like to attach to Jefferson?

Mike Rush



----- Original Message -----
From: <bainbridge@moscow.com>
To: "Bob Hoffmann" <escape@alt-escape.com>; <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 6:27 AM
Subject: Re: vision2020-digest Digest V01 #250


> Actually, it is my understanding that Jefferson was a deist - not an
atheist.
> Chris
> >
>
>  At 07:03 PM 10/18/2001 -0700, you wrote:
> > >Why do you think they stated " We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that
> > >all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
> > >certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
> > >pursuit of Happiness." in the Declaration of Independance?
> >
> > The Declaration of Independence is among the most sacred of American
> > documents.  However, it has no bearing in law, except for the fact that
we
> > are no longer a colony of England.
> >
> > Thomas Jefferson--author of the Declaration of Independence--was widely
> > held to be an atheist.  This son of the Enlightenment may have written
> > those words, but I have never heard alleged that he, one of the greatest
of
> > our Founding Fathers, was Christian.  If this Creator he spoke of was
> > (tongue in cheek) a Shinto deity, does that mean we should all convert
to
> > an archaic Japanese religion?
> >
> > I think not.
> >
> > Bob Hoffmann
> > 846 Mabelle St.
> > Moscow, ID  83843
> >
> > Tel: 208 883-0642
> >
>
>
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