Jefferson Worked Toward States to Disestablish State-Churches

Religious freedom, as Thomas Jefferson understood it, was best served by having states not have any particular state-church—by law established. He helped Virginia disestablish its state-church (Anglican) by writing the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (written in 1777, passed when he was in France in 1786). That Statute calls on …

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Reaffirmation of Jefferson’s “Christian” Identity (Although Noncreedal)

On May 16, 1816, Charles Thomson replied to Jefferson saying he was glad to hear of his extracts of the Gospels* and proof that he was a “real Christian, that is, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” Thomson also told him of his habit every morning and sometimes at night of reading …

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