The Jefferson Bible

[Upchurch]

I picked up a copy of the Jefferson Bible^WP this last summer and am finally getting around to working through.

For those who are not familiar, the Jefferson Bible was Thomas Jefferson's attempt to put all of the books of the New Testiment into one chronological narrative minus all the woo-iness. The subtitle is the "The Life and Morals of Jesus Christ" and that is all it has to it.

IMHO, as far as I've gotten, what a difference the non-wooie version makes! Jefferson puts together a very coherent description of Christianity that, I feel, is rather admirable and not at all what most modern Christians present.

It still isn't a philosophy I personally would follow 100%, but only because I believe in makeing the most of the hear and now rather than relying on the here after. If you have the chance to pick up a copy, I highly recommend it for an interesting read.

 

[Beady]

Looks interesting. Ordered a copy from Amazon.

 

[Marquis de Carabas]

Would that be the Jefferson who founded our nation on Christian principles and would roll over in his grave if he found out we don't pray in public schools or the real one? Just wondering.

 

[Upchurch]

Would that be the Jefferson who founded our nation on Christian principles and would roll over in his grave if he found out we don't pray in public schools or the real one? Just wondering.

The one who was the product of the Enlightenment.

 

[Beady]

...and would roll over in his grave if he found out we don't pray in public schools?

Well, since that one exists only as a surmise...

In fact, it appears that Jefferson considered freedom of religion to mean that periods of enforced public prayer at the behest of government agencies was unconstitutional.

Wikipedia:

In the National Day of Prayer School Events Guide available on the National Day of Prayer Task Force's website, they argue for the constitutionality and need for a National Day of Prayer, claiming that the "Founding Fathers did not mean for our government to be separated from our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers, seems to have disagreed. In 1808, in response to national days of prayer, Jefferson wrote, "Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it."

IOW, it appears Jefferson would be much more likely to roll over in his grave if he found out that government effort was being spent on trying to get people to pray. Prayer, he seems to be saying, belongs in the hands of the "religious societies" and not in the hands of the government.

 

[Marquis de Carabas]

Well, since that one exists only as a surmise...

Yes. Hence "or the real one".