In our book, Doubting Thomas, Dr. Mark Beliles and I show that the modern idea of Thomas Jefferson as a lifelong skeptic of Christianity does not fit the facts. After a few decades of a seeming good relationship between Jefferson and the church, during the campaign of 1800—when Jefferson ran …
On February 5, 1798, Jefferson wrote some Notes on Newspaper Articles, which spoke of Jesus as “Saviour.” This term describes a redemptive mission. Jefferson also used this term or “Christ” in other letters; but in this 1798 case, like his earlier commonplace notes and other “Notes on Religion” (see DOUBTING THOMAS, pp. 10, …
As is commonly done, even among people today—whether they believe in Jesus or not—, Thomas Jefferson, a professing Christian chose a Christian wedding for his daughter. Our book, Doubting Thomas, makes the point that Thomas Jefferson went through various religions phases of his life….including as a professing Christian for the bulk of …
Our book, Doubting Thomas, makes two simple points: 1) Jefferson was not a life-long skeptic, and 2) Jefferson did not believe in the idea that there should be no godly influence at work in the state. He certainly believed in the separation of the institution of the church from the institution of …
Contrary to the myth of Thomas Jefferson the lifelong unbeliever, our third president was committed as a churchman. He donated a lot of money to church and church-related causes. We document this in our book, Doubting Thomas: The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson. When Jefferson ends his term as …
[The picture here is of Rev. John Witherspoon, president of Princeton, who is referenced in this article.] The actual life of Thomas Jefferson, especially in the first half of his time on earth, was more as a believer in Jesus than an unbeliever. He learned much of the Scriptures. He …
[Photo by Jerry Newcombe of modern day NYC, a city referenced in this column (in the 1780s/90s). We see the back of the statue of George Washington looking out onto Wall Street.] Here’s a portion of our book, Doubting Thomas, which seeks to document that Thomas Jefferson was not a lifelong skeptic, …
No doubt Jefferson late in life had some serious doubts about key Christian doctrines. But much earlier in his life, for a few decades, he enjoyed good fellowship with an evangelical minister, named Charles Clay. I am so pleased that our book, Doubting Thomas, includes in print for the first …
[File photo by Jerry Newcombe] When Jefferson returned home from France in December 1789, he soon became aware of a Virginia religious revival if he was not already that was impacting the Presbyterian college of Hampden Sidney. He still found his St. Anne’s Parish to be missing any clergyman and …
When it comes to analyzing Thomas Jefferson’s religious views, it’s a complicated subject. But it is clear that he was not a lifelong skeptic. Some people seem to treat him as such, and that does not fit the facts. Our book, Doubting Thomas, shows that our third president went through …