Dr. Mark Beliles (co-founder of the Providence Foundation) and I wrote a book on the faith of Thomas Jefferson, called DOUBTING THOMAS? In the book, we document that Jefferson was not a lifelong skeptic, although he had some serious questions about core Christian doctrines later in life. Nor was Jefferson …
In our book, DOUBTING THOMAS, it was the goal of Mark Beliles and me to examine Thomas Jefferson as he truly was in reference to his religious views. It would be fair to say that earlier in his life, he seemed to be an outwardly committed Christian, but later developed …
Many today view Jefferson as a lifelong skeptic. But that is not in accordance with the facts. See, for example, our book, “DOUBTING THOMAS? The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson” by Mark Beliles and Jerry Newcombe (Morgan James, 2014). Here is a small portion of that book…dealing with …
At the very end of 1784, Jefferson sent a letter to his friend, lawyer James Madison (the later president), who was pushing for religious freedom in the Virginia legislature. Madison informed Jefferson that the Episcopal clergy were now advocating for legal incorporation status for their Church. Although sounding benign in …
The idea of Thomas Jefferson as a lifelong skeptic and critic of Christianity is a myth. Here are some points we bring out in our book, DOUBTING THOMAS. On the last day of 1783, Jefferson wrote a letter that told of his recent meeting with Presbyterian Rev. John Witherspoon of Princeton …
[File photo by Jerry Newcombe] Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful and godly wife tragically died while in the process of giving birth to another daughter. Both mother and daughter died. This may well have been a personal tragedy from which Jefferson never recovered. After Christmas 1782, Jefferson traveled to Philadelphia to serve in …
In our book, DOUBTING THOMAS on the faith and life of Thomas Jefferson, we show that our third president was actively a church member—yet it wasn’t always easy to continue in church because of some of the congregations disbanding, such as is the case of the one described below (Calvinistical …
Sometimes, one is left with the impression that Thomas Jefferson had declared virtual war against any man of the cloth. He’s certainly on record for opposing a state-established church. That often became the engine for persecution against religious dissidents. Jefferson opposed that very clearly. But many of his friends were …
When Thomas Jefferson was governor of Virginia, his personal faith was evident through his continuing support of Rev. Clay and the Calvinistical Reformed Church. On August 15, 1779, he recorded in his account book that he “Paid Rev. Charles Clay in consideration of parochial [i.e., church-related] services.” And on the …
The power for the Virginia government to proclaim public days of prayer in Bill #85 was applied by Jefferson while Governor of Virginia in 1779. On November 11, Governor Jefferson issued a “Proclamation for a Public Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer.” The official document began: “By his Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq. Governour or Chief …