Per Wiki on Jefferson’s Religion
Jefferson variously refers to himself as “Christian” (1803),[6] “a sect by myself” (1819),[7] an “Epicurean” (1819),[8] a “materialist” (1820),[9] and a “Unitarian by myself” (1825).[10] Historian Sydney E. Ahlstrom associated Jefferson with “rational religion” or deism.[11]
Notes refer to Wiki Footnotes for the Jefferson’s Religion article.
Yes but the question was “Did the historical Jesus exist?” Jefferson may have questioned the Deity of Jesus but not the actual existence. He fully accepted Christ was a real person.
Payne on the other hand questioned all. Which only proves to me that really smart people sometimes outsmart themselves and come to wrong conclusions like everyone else.