Jefferson On Religion

For some reason last week while in deep contemplation the thought of Jeffersonian religious thought invaded my meditation, which led me to reflect on what is meant by freedom of religion, and the separation of church and state, maybe due to the fact that some of the most celebrated Christian Holidays are coming up soon.

Although Jefferson was a Christian, in that he thought that Christ’s teachings were, "outlines of a system of the most sublime morality which has ever fallen from the lips of man." he was often accused of being a libertine, or an atheist, because of his rather unorthodox approach to “religion”. He is often times referred to as a Deist, in other words, Jefferson believed in the existence of a Supreme Being who was the creator, and sustainer of the universe and the ultimate ground of being, but this was not the triune deity of orthodox Christianity, he did not believe in the divinity of Jesus, even though as stated above he held that Jesus was the greatest of moral teachers.

The reason I bring up his personal belief is that I feel it is reflected in his statements regarding putting up a “wall between church and state”. He rightfully accused religions of the past of using their “power” for tyrannical control over a populous, and that government that established a “state” religion where guilty of the same tyrannical despotism.

What I have argued in the past, as have others who consider themselves Christians, is that our country was founded on Christian principles, and therefore the exclusion of the mention of Christian holidays, celebrations, and moral imperatives, such as the case against abortion, is contrary to the original intent of the founding fathers.

The argument on the other side of the debate states that the founding fathers and in particular Jefferson wanted no mention of ANY religion in the schools, or in any public institution. That religion was personal and should be kept separate.

Both are valid interpretations, but taken to the extreme on both sides.

Jefferson’s writings and statements I feel have been taken out of context to forward the thinking of the “no religious mention at all in public” types. For instance one quote (half quote) that is often used is one in which involved the Elementary School Act of 1817. The partial quote they use is: "No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced [in the elementary schools]…

However the whole quote says something quite different.

"No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced [in the elementary schools] inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or denomination."

This is quite different than banning all mention of religion in public schools, but in fact ONLY states that the banning of ANY books or materials regardless of subject (including that of a religious nature) is not acceptable, that any particularly denominational instruction or exercise, such as saying the Our Father, or reciting the Koran as a required function of everyday procedure was not to be allowed. However It did not ban the personal prayer in a school or government edifice.

The anti-religion groups have interpreted the separation of church and state in the severest of terms, to completely remove all mention and public expression of religion, using Jefferson’s criticism of organized church as their foundation. However, Jefferson although not a Christian by orthodox standards also believed that the decision was up to the individual AND COMMUNITY and that in a free society that expression was not to be suppressed in ANY way in particular by Federal Government edict.

Jefferson stated in a letter to Samuel Miller in 1808: "I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from inter-meddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the states the powers not delegated to the United States. Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in religious discipline has been delegated to the General (Federal) Government. It must then rest with the states, as far as it can be in any human authority."

On the other side of the argument are the fundamentalist Christians that insist that Christianity, in particular, is the foundation of the country and those things such as prayer in school, the national celebration of Christmas et.al were understood to be a major part of this countries culture.

The truth is that religious Holiday celebration such as Christmas was outlawed in Puritan New England until 1856, so six of the thirteen original colonies didn’t even allow Christmas celebration as we do today. This restriction was based on the RELIGIOUS principles of the Puritan controlled government, and more than likely one of the things that Jefferson so abhorred. However it was the states that chose this restriction and not the Federal Government.

Things such as the Pledge of Allegiance didn’t have the statement One Nation under God until 1954 or in God we trust on our money until 1957, both initiated due to the Cold War fear of Godless communism.

In summation both sides have valid points, and both appear to be using Jefferson as their Champion, however if Jefferson’s writings are taken as a whole and not expurgated or take out of context the separation of religious practice and government went BOTH ways. Neither group should hold judgment or control over the other. To ban the FREE expression of a religious event of ANY denomination or belief system was in his mind as repugnant as civil law being decided on by any religious group or Church.