[gdani]

Were these books used as a result of Jefferson, or instituted very shortly after his departure from public life? History is unclear on this point, which can be debated ad nauseum....

I would find it very hard to believe that Jefferson would recommend or mandate the Bible being taught in public schools given a) his distaste for the New Testament and b) the way he set up the theology department to be separate from the rest of the university at the University of Virginia.

[=Intervention=]

Distaste? He cut out every single word that was not a direct quotation of Christ. I wouldn't call that distaste. Setting up a separate theology department follows the old Renaissance teaching that theology is the queen of the sciences. Try again.