DOUBTING THOMAS by Mark Beliles and Jerry Newcombe

When Jefferson was a young man he acted as a professing Trinitarian Christian

In 1777. Jefferson helped found an evangelical church

Now in print---for the first time ever---many religious letters and 2 sermons from the church that Jefferson funded and attended

Jefferson encouraged non-coercive religion in public life and the right of state governments to decide religious policy

DOUBTING THOMAS by Mark Beliles and Jerry Newcombe

This new book presents new evidence that calls into question the view that Jefferson was a lifelong skeptic and that he believed in the "naked public square"

When Jefferson was a young man he acted as a professing Trinitarian Christian

Later in life Jefferson changed in his views, privately, to a more unorthodox position. But the point here is that he was not a lifelong skeptic.

In 1777. Jefferson helped found an evangelical church

The same year he wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson helped create the Calvinistical Reformed Church of Charlottesville.

Now in print---for the first time ever---many religious letters and 2 sermons from the church that Jefferson funded and attended

DOUBTING THOMAS contains in the Appendix about a dozen religious letters of Jefferson that have never been in print before now, plus two sermons by Rev. Charles Clay, whose ministry Jefferson supported.

Jefferson encouraged non-coercive religion in public life and the right of state governments to decide religious policy

Jefferson approved and attended regularly the Christian worship services held Sundays at the US Capitol building and in his local courthouse. He refrained from issuing national religious proclamations but had no objection to state proclamations.

Fresh Insights About Jefferson's Religious Views Based on NEW Evidence

"DOUBTING THOMAS? The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson" by MARK A. BELILES and JERRY NEWCOMBE deals with the faith---or the lack thereof---of one of our most important founding fathers. But this volume provides NEW information, some of which has not been in print before. To learn more about the book, see www.americapublications.org DOUBTING THOMAS contains previously unpublished documents including a dozen religious letters by Jefferson and two sermons by his pastor Charles Clay. Jefferson voluntarily joined and donated to Clay’s Calvinistical Reformed Church of Charlottesville.

Jefferson Claimed to Be a Christian

[Jerry Newcombe at the Jefferson Memorial.] Contrary to the notion that Thomas Jefferson was a lifelong skeptic of Christianity, he claimed to be a Christian. However, not all professors of Christianity are possessors of true faith. Only God is the judge. Meanwhile, Jefferson claimed to be a Christian, but in …

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Jefferson Supported Many Churches and Ministries

Thomas Jefferson gave money to Christian ministries and churches all his life. He was very generous in this regard. And he kept meticulous notes in his account book. On March 2, 1803, Thomas Jefferson’s account book shows: “Gave in charity to the Revd. Mr. chambers of Alexandria for his church…50 Dollars.” …

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Jefferson Continued to Worship Regularly at the U.S. Capitol

It’s a common modern myth that Thomas Jefferson lived and acted like an atheist all his life. He was a regular church-goer for most of his life. The times he did not attend were during those periods when the local branch of the Episcopal Church, of which he was a …

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The Myth of Thomas Jefferson the Lifelong Skeptic

Contrary to the notion that Thomas Jefferson was a lifelong skeptic, the reality is that our third president had many interactions with Christians and Christian leaders. He was a hero in his day among the evangelicals in Virginia because he championed religious freedom. Later in life, he developed some doubts …

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