Posted on 11/18/2003 12:49:09 PM PST by average american student
Liberty Letters, Jefferson, Letter 6
On Monday, March 4, 1805, Thomas Jefferson gave his Second Inaugural Address as president of the United States.
In his closing remarks he painted a provocative parallel between the settling and establishment of the United States following our exodus from tyrants in Europe, and the settling and establishment of ancient Israel following the Israelites’ exodus from tyrants in Egypt.
He referred to God as “that Being in whose hands we are, who led our forefathers, as Israel of old, from their native land, and planted them in a country flowing with all the necessaries and comforts of life; who has covered our infancy with His providence and our riper years with His wisdom and power, and … goodness[.]”
Jefferson, a man not just of reason, but of faith, continued:
“I shall need, too, the favor of that Being. …”
And why was that?
Because, said he, “the weaknesses of human nature, and the limits of my own understanding, will produce errors of judgment sometimes injurious to your interests.”
Bottom line: He loved his country and countrymen too much to rely only upon his own abilities and understanding.
And so, he continued:
“I ask you to join with me in supplications that He will so enlighten the minds of your servants, guide their councils, and prosper their measures, that whatsoever they do shall result in your good, and shall secure to you the peace, friendship, and approbation of all nations.” (1)
He was speaking to every American citizen, as president of the United States, in an official capacity, to remind America whence cometh her blessings, how dependent he personally felt upon God, and to express an interest in their prayers that God would help him and their country.
And so, what’s wrong with that?
Is this not about humility – something in short supply today? Is this not but an exercise of the inalienable right to speak freely? Is it not pure nonsense to believe that any man becomes less free because another man declares that our liberties come from God (not the state), that man, being imperfect, ought to pray to God for His guidance and blessings?
Just how is it that free expression forces religion down any man’s throat? Where is the harm to a man’s property, or to his life, or to his civic rights?
Here’s the plain truth: Public speech, public confession and public monuments are not manifestations of forced religion, but its opposite.
That such reminders, monuments and testimonials were not deemed by Jefferson as manifestations of forced religion are further witnessed by Jefferson’s proposal for the Great Seal of the United States.
Think of this. Shortly after 1776, he submitted a drawing depicting the aforementioned theme, that is, “the children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night,” with the bold inscription “Israel Led by God’s Pillar of Fire” and, in smaller print, “Liberty under God’s law – Man’s Inalienable Birthright of Freedom.” (2)
Again, this provocative parallel.
It was a popular belief. He might have discovered it on his own, or maybe he read it in Samuel Sherword’s oft-cited 1776 political sermon, “The Church’s Flight Into the Wilderness.” (3)
Franklin introduced a similar drawing for the great seal, depicting Moses standing on the shore extending his hand over the sea, which overwhelmed Pharaoh, while rays from a pillar of fire in the clouds reach to Moses, expressing that he acts by command of the Deity. With this Motto: “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” (4)
And so, what’s wrong with that?
These drawings, these speeches were not idols that men must bow down before or perish. Give Jefferson credit. They were, however, reminders that something larger than the state presides over man – and that any man who sets himself in the place of God will have a hot rebellion on his hands.
Excuse me, and excuse Chief Justice Moore, but isn’t this the very rationale for what the founders called a just revolution? Or have we forgotten?
So, here’s a little reminder: Standing up for such beliefs in public does not constitute force in religion – they are only words.
Removing a man from office for defending his belief, however, does in fact constitute an act of force against faith. It is the approach of the communists. It is the approach of the old church-states in Europe.
Peter of old once asked, “Whom shall we fear, God or man?”
Justice Moore made his choice. Now, you make yours.
NewsMax pundit Steve Farrell is associate professor of political economy at George Wythe College, and the author of “Dark Rose,” an inspirational read about faith and family. Get your autographed and discounted copy for the holidays now. Or browse through a copy first.
Contact Steve at farrell@newsmax.com
Footnotes
1. Jefferson, Thomas. Second Inaugural Address.
2. Patterson, Richard S., and Richardson, Dougall, “The Eagle and the Shield: A History of the Great Seal of the United States,” Washington: U.S. Department of State, 1976, p. 18.
3. Sandoz, Ellis, editor. “Political Sermons of the Founding Era, 1730-1805, Volume I,” Liberty Fund, Indianapolis, 1998, pp. 493-525.
4. Patterson and Dougall, p. 16. For more on the Great Seal, see also: Skousen, W. Cleon. “The Making of America,” The National Center for Constitutional Studies, Washington D.C., 1985, pp. 32-33.
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."- John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798Jeff Head
Wrong! Jefferson was an atheist. See it at http://no-god.com/article/quote.html
Some Jefferson quotes from that website ...
"Question boldly even the existence of God; because if there be one, He must approve the homage of Reason rather than that of blindfolded Fear."
"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."
"Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologies."
"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."
"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being of His Father, in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter."
All the above are from Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat
I believe Jefferson was a "theist" rather than an "atheist".
I'll check out the site that you referenced. I'm assuming that is your source.
One small problem. Verified facts and non-verified facts. For example a verified fact would be, "The President of the United States is George Bush." Everyone knows this is true.
A non-verified fact would be, "Homosexuals make up 1% of this nations population." There are no known surveys to prove this statement.
From the limited time I spent on your source site I did not fine one verified quote nor did I find one quote with a reference. Sites such as the one you referenced would not be acceptable as a reference source in any scholastic setting.
It seems to me that folks go to a lot of trouble trying to prove God does not exist.
I wonder, who does an atheist call out to... when he/she/it knows that they are going to die?
Sort of what you were saying, a nation of Christians rather than a Christian nation
Bump for intelligence - someone DOES understand.
If Jefferson said he was an atheist, I would have to accept him at his word. If he said he was a Christian I would have to accept him at his word. Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush, 21 Apr 1803:
To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; & believing he never claimed any other.On 4 Mar 1805 President Jefferson prayed a National Prayer for Peace:
"Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners."Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thomson:"Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues."
"Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whome in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of earth."
"In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
Monticello, January 9, 1816. I, too, have made a wee-little book from the same materials, which I call the Philosophy of Jesus; it is a paradigma of his doctrines, made by cutting the texts out of the book, and arranging them on the pages of a blank book, in a certain order of time or subject. A more beautiful or precious morsel of ethics I have never seen; it is a document in proof that I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus, very different from the Platonists, who call me infidel and themselves Christians and preachers of the gospel, while they draw all their characteristic dogmas from what its author never said nor saw.
Jefferson was a Christian.
I'm with Jefferson on that -- very different from those calling him infidel.
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