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 To learn more about the book, see www.americapublications.org DOUBTING THOMAS contains previously unpublished documents including a dozen religious letters by Jefferson and two sermons by his pastor Charles Clay.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

Continuation of Sermon by Jefferson’s Pastor

As noted before, the gist of the message by Jefferson’s pastor is that before a holy God, sinful man is in trouble. That’s why Jesus came to be our Savior. Rev. Charles Clay God, The Adversary of the Sinner [continued] Matthew 5:25,26 Agree with thine adversary quickly whiles thou art …

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Continuation of a Sermon by Pastor Clay—Whose Ministry Was Supported by Jefferson

The gist of the message by Jefferson’s pastor is that before a holy God, sinful man is in trouble. That’s why Jesus came to be our Savior. Rev. Charles Clay God, The Adversary of the Sinner [continued] Matthew 5:25,26 Agree with thine adversary quickly whiles thou art in the way …

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The Continuation of Rev. Charles Clay’s Jefferson-Supported Message

[File photo by Jerry Newcombe of a colonial church] When he was a young man, Thomas Jefferson supported the work of a patriotic minister, who was an evangelical, Rev. Charles Clay. Our book, Doubting Thomas, has two of Clay’s sermons in the back of the book. To our knowledge, this …

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A Portion of a Sermon Jefferson Helped Support

[File photo by Jerry Newcombe of colonial pulpit] Jefferson supported Rev. Charles Clay, with whom he had a long relationship. Although ordained in the Anglican Church, Rev. Clay was an evangelical. In our book, Doubting Thomas, we have two sermons of Rev. Clay in print. To our knowledge, this is …

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