Thomas Jefferson's admiration and financial support of Christianity

[Hokulele]

So you think that a political appointee can't create an exhibit with a political agenda?

I wonder if DOC takes everything hosted/published by the U.S. government as gospel. He might want to stop by some of the exhibits in the Smithsonian some time.

 

[DOC]

So you think that a political appointee can't create an exhibit with a political agenda?

Presenting Historical documents about the subject of religion is an agenda???

 

[Hokulele]

Die zombie thread! DIE!!!!!!

 

[DOC]

I wonder if DOC takes everything hosted/published by the U.S. government as gospel. He might want to stop by some of the exhibits in the Smithsonian some time.

And what would I see in the Smithsonian.

 

[bokonon]

Oh, THAT post #2002...

 

[Hokulele]

And what would I see in the Smithsonian.

http://anthropology.si.edu/HumanOrigins/ha/ances_start.html

 

[AkuManiMani]

Yes, according to an audio tape of Dr. James Kennedy of Ft. Lauderdale Florida, Thomas Jefferson was a Bible Scholar who read the Bible daily. Jefferson read the Bible in English, Greek, Latin, and French. Jefferson also contributed his own money to 10 different churches in the 8 years he was president.

He also stated that Jefferson attended church every week for seven years in the Rotunda of the Congress building and ordered the Marine band to play to support the singing and hymns.

I'll get into the Seperation of Church and State misinformation and deception later as time permits.

Jefferson also approached the bible with a skeptical mindset. I think he once said something to the effect that the book of Revelation must have been written by a lunatic.

Edit: Typo

 

[DOC]

Jefferson was also approached the bible with a skeptical mindset. I think he once said something to the effect that the book of Revelation must have been written by a lunatic.

deleted

 

[bokonon]

No fair, he's pumping up his post count! Mod! oh MODDD!

 

[DOC]

Jefferson was also approached the bible with a skeptical mindset. I think he once said something to the effect that the book of Revelation must have been written by a lunatic.

But he sure did spend a lot of time and energy cutting out and pasting the parts of the Bible he liked.

 

[joobz]

But he sure did spend a lot of time and energy cutting out and pasting the parts of the Bible he liked.

He did spend a lot of time. It's hard work sorting through all the chaff that is the bible to get the few grains of truth that are there. But, I don't see how such an observation helps your case.

 

[joobz]

Die zombie thread! DIE!!!!!!

Empty, Non-informative post #121.

But, wait. My responding to this is equally useless..

Empty, Non-informative post #122.

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Empty, Non-informative post #123.

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Empty, Non-informative post #126.

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Empty, Non-informative post #127.

But, wait. My responding to this is equally useless.....
tapioca stop time.

joobz apologizes for creating a forum singularity.

 

[DOC]

He did spend a lot of time. It's hard work sorting through all the chaff that is the bible to get the few grains of truth that are there. But, I don't see how such an observation helps your case.

As far as I know he never spent time cutting out and pasting the remarks of Plato and Aristotle whom he also read. Gee those guys who fabricated all the Gospels {as some in this religion forum believe} really did a good job to get a guy like Jefferson cuttin' and pastin'.

 

[Hokulele]

As far as I know he never spent time cutting out and pasting the remarks of Plato and Aristotle whom he also read. Gee those guys who fabricated all the Gospels {as some in this religion forum believe} really did a good job to get a guy like Jefferson cuttin' and pastin'.

That could be due to the fact that he agreed with everything Aristotle and Plato wrote, but not everything in the bible.

 

[bokonon]

As far as I know he never spent time cutting out and pasting the remarks of Plato and Aristotle whom he also read. Gee those guys who fabricated all the Gospels {as some in this religion forum believe} really did a good job to get a guy like Jefferson cuttin' and pastin'.

Plato and Aristotle didn't have people claiming their mothers were virgins and they rose from the dead, so the task of excising the nonsense may have been easier. Still, now you know better.

 

[DOC]

That could be due to the fact that he agreed with everything Aristotle and Plato wrote, but not everything in the bible.

This would be a false assumption and if I get the time I'll show why.

 

[Hokulele]

This would be a false assumption and if I get the time I'll show why.

Please do so using primary sources and not links to sites that rely on cherry-picking, out of context quoting, or out and out fabrications.

 

[joobz]

As far as I know he never spent time cutting out and pasting the remarks of Plato and Aristotle whom he also read. Gee those guys who fabricated all the Gospels {as some in this religion forum believe} really did a good job to get a guy like Jefferson cuttin' and pastin'.

DOC, you are simply provinig that Jefferson found the bible flawed and substandard. He simply found the errors ini Aristotle and Plato more acceptable. What wasn't acceptable to him was the bible claiming diviinity. That, he felt, was magical mumbo jumbo.

 

[DOC]

DOC, you are simply provinig that Jefferson found the bible flawed and substandard. He simply found the errors ini Aristotle and Plato more acceptable.

Jefferson was actually quite critical of Plato. From the article:

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL and THOMAS JEFFERSON
A Comparative Study of Two Old Virginians

by LEROY GARRETT, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas

Jeffersonian democracy and what might be called Campbellian individualism drew their inspiration other than from Plato and Aristotle. Jefferson had an aversion of Plato, viewing his writings as "sophisms, futilities and incomprehensibilities."

In a letter to John Adams he said of Plato:

"His foggy mind is forever presenting the semblances of objects which, half seen through a mist, can be defined neither in form nor dimensions. Yet this, which should have consigned him to early oblivion, really procured him immortality of fame and reverence." Of the clergy's use of Plato he commented: "The Christian priesthood, finding the doctrines of Christ levelled to every understanding, and too plain to need explanation, saw in the mysticism of Plato materials with which they might build up an artificial system . . . The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus himself are within the comprehension of a child; but thousands of volumes have not yet explained the Platonisms engrafted on them, and for the obvious reason that nonsense can never be explained." (Norman Cousins, In God We Trust, p. 162)

http://www.leroygarrett.org/ac_tj/default.htm

______

So we know Jefferson thought that both the Book of Revelation and Platonisms were incomprehensible...

It also seems reasonable to assume that Jefferson never cut out and pasted any Platonisms since he thinks they're nonsense. But we do know he did cut out and paste many of Christ teachings. Therefore we can conclude that Jefferson believed the teachings of Christ were vastly superior to Plato's.

 

[Gagglegnash]

Hi

But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.

-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent.

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Francis Hopkinson, March 13, 1789

Ooooh! Ooooh!! Just WAIT until I get sig-line permission!!!