The problem I have with all the so called "students of T.J" is the fact that they want to ignore what he has stated about himself concerning chritianity. I have posted quotes from him earlier in this post. These quotes do prove that he considers Jesus something more than an ordinary man. Please give me your take on this. Please dont ignore his quotes. To ignore the facts just proves my point even more.
I would agree. Thomas Jefferson was many things, but stupid wasn't one of them. My take on those quotes is this:
He understands that Jesus was a big deal, did many great things, helped change the face of the world and his teachings have absolutely had a positive effect on people's lives. However, with that said I don't think he would claim that you need to believe in Jesus to be saved. That is where people like Jefferson differ from most Christians. Also, he realizes a lot of the church teachings of Jesus (perhaps some in the Bible, obviously debatable) have been tweaked and used for the benefit of the church. He has quotes like this:
"The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves...these clergy, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ."
"Christianity...(has become) the most perverted system that ever shone on man. ...Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus."
So he understands what happened with Jesus. He understands how the church used Jesus to trick people into being saved and enslave them. That is what I think he is saying. It's obviously extremely hard to explain this interpretation to most Christians because most Christians don't agree with it. They say you need Jesus to be saved, but Jefferson takes a much more refined approach IMO. And he is not the only one to have this view. But who knows, maybe he was wrong on such a view, but I am almost certain this was his view.
I could talk about it more, but I don't think it matters to most people and that is why he is okay with quoting the teachings of Jesus and going along with them. They are obviously good teachings. It is the deification part of Jesus that Jefferson has problems with IMO. Here is another quote I like from him:
"But those facts in the Bible which contradict the laws of nature, must be examined with more care, and under a variety of faces. Here you must recur to the pretensions of the writer to inspiration from God.
Examine upon what evidence his pretensions are founded, and whether that evidence is so strong, as that its falsehood would be more improbable than a change in the laws of nature, in the case he relates."
He had a much more precise eye than most Christians have these days. He wasn't an all or nothing kind of guy. He was a precise scholar and very well read. He knew history and he knew the early church. I think I can understand where he is coming from because I have studied all these topics heavily, as I'm sure you have done some of your own.
Anyhow, all in all I think Jefferson would have been a staunch supporter for Christianity, at least what it was 200 years ago. He would not be a fan of the televangelist / evangelical BS that has corrupted Christianity in our present day, which I am sure you're most likely not a fan of either. That is my take on it. I could go on for hours about this stuff.
PS: I think papajohn56 gets what Jefferson was about and understands the dynamics.