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 To learn more about the book, see www.americapublications.org DOUBTING THOMAS contains previously unpublished documents including a dozen religious letters by Jefferson and two sermons by his pastor Charles Clay.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 and Church Involvement

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 …

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Many of Jefferson’s Friends Were Clergymen

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 …

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Some Pro-Christian Actions by Virginia Gov. Thomas Jefferson

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 …

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VA Gov. Thomas Jefferson Calls for a Day of Prayer

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 …

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