Yearly Archives: 2019
Despite Some Doubts, Jefferson Was Generous to Christian Causes
Thomas Jefferson was not a lifelong skeptic…although later in life, he privately expressed some doubts about core Christian doctrines. Our book, DOUBING THOMAS, shows that he went through several phases of belief or the lack thereof through his long life. The book also shows that he did not believe in …
Jefferson Explains His So-called “Jefferson Bible” (Version 1, 1804—intended for the Indians)
[File image] There are two main points to our book, DOUBTING THOMAS (co-authored by Charlottesville pastor, Dr. Mark Beliles and me). 1) Jefferson was not a lifelong skeptic. When he was most productive and helpful to the country, he was from all outward appearances a believing Christian. 2) Regardless of …
Jefferson Was a Good Statesman, But a Lousy Theologian
Jefferson’s Doubts in the Christian Faith Begin to Emerge
[Pictured: founding father Benjamin Rush, mentioned in this blogpost.] Earlier in his life, when he was of great use to his country, Thomas Jefferson was by all outward appearances a believing Christian. Later, he came to harbor doubts about core Christian doctrines. But our book, Doubting Thomas, documents that he was not a …
The “Christian” Source of Jefferson’s Later Anti-Trinity Views?
The Billy Graham of Jefferson’s Day Endorsed Jefferson
Lorenzo Dow was the Billy Graham of Thomas Jefferson’s day. Rev. Dow thought of Jefferson as a champion of religious freedom and as an active Christian. Later in life, on a private basis, Jefferson harbored some serious doubts about core Christian doctrines. Rev. Hugh White was another local minister who …
Jefferson Continued to Have Positive Interactions with Ministers of the Gospel
As Jefferson Retired from the White House, He Continued Positive Relations with the Clergy
Contrary to the myth of Thomas Jefferson, the lifelong skeptic or the believer in separation of God and state, the real Thomas Jefferson is much more nuanced in his views. Our book, DOUBTING THOMAS, co-written by Dr. Mark Beliles (a long time pastor in Jefferson’s hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia) and …
Religious Language in Jefferson’s Correspondence
The phrase “the separation of church and state” is not in the U.S. Constitution. Instead, it’s found in a private letter from Thomas Jefferson that the Supreme Court used in a 1947 decision that forever altered church/state relations in America. We are often given the impression that our third president …