Meeting Thomas Jefferson

by rick.wilson on Feb.24, 2010, under History

You hear it so much from those who package God and country – “America needs to return,” they say, “to the Judeo-Christian ethic that our founding fathers understood.” Quoting Thomas Jefferson from the Declaration of Independence in reverential awe, they speak of a uniquely American, faith based ideal – “All men are created equal.” Did Jefferson REALLY understand it like that? Is he a part of a faith heritage making the United States a “Christian nation?”

Thomas Jefferson was eloquent, intelligent, idealistic and very gifted. But in purely religious terms he was a deist – subscribing to a belief that God created the world and then left it. Jefferson created his own bible – edited to exclude any references to miracles, healing, prophecy and the Spirit of God.

He had very specific beliefs about race. “The radical distinction that nature has made,” he said formed forever “an insurmountable barrier to a multi-racial society.” Black people were not “governable” and could not be educated so slavery was the only answer. (James Oakes “Why Slaves Can’t Read.” John Chester Miller “The Wolf by the Ears.”)

The context of the phrase “all men are created equal” had to everything to do with the oppressive sovereignty of King George III and nothing at all to do with women and people of color who are not in the minds or sight lines of the framers in the room where the declaration was signed. But “Aren’t we all Americans?” – the common almost rhetorical question emerges. In response, my friend Robyn often asks – “Yeah but what does that look like?” Too often – all white – all male.

Here’s the essential question. If Jefferson and other founders were alive today could they go to your church? Given their views on faith, slavery (12 of the first 17 presidents were slave holders) and women’s rights, would they qualify as your friend and brother? Could Thomas Jefferson be a deacon, elder or small group leader? Could he subscribe to a Christian statement of faith?

What do you think?

Is the God and country package the right way to see America?

3 Comments for this entry

Sarah Wilson-Sparrow
February 25th, 2010 on 6:23 am
I appreciate your words and insightful questions. I find the constant nostalgic “look back” to the founding fathers highly disingenuous and manipulative. Nostalgia is defined as “a bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.” The danger here is that myth creation takes precedence over what is factual, real and honest.

Jefferson was a man of his time and the notion that we can arbitrarily decide where he would stand on our modern cultural, religious and political issues is absurd. Much of what occurs in our society today would be unthinkable to Jefferson–universal suffrage (including women and African-Americans), an African-American president, or a man on the moon for that matter.

The truth is that we want to hear what makes us comfortable and perpetuates our own belief system. This urge is often so strong that truth becomes irrelevent. This is why it is imperative to check the facts. Thanks Dad for your thought provoking questions and willingness to look beyond the seductive pull of nostalgia.
Rick Wilson
February 25th, 2010 on 1:29 pm
And I appreciate YOUR insightful comments! You make your daddy proud!!
Bill Drayton
March 8th, 2010 on 5:22 am
I understand that Thomas Jefferson introduced an anti-slavery clause in the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, because he thought that sooner or later slavery would cease to exist anyway. Of course, the Southern delegates including ancestors of mine – John and Edward Rutledge – were outraged and threatened that South Carolina and Georgia would side with the British against the patriots. Needless to say, the clause was struck out, in order to maintain a united front against the British crown. However that unity was fragile, as each state, especially in the south, felt that it was not duty bound to federal law all the time. It is interesting to note that Thomas Jefferson in his will freed his slaves. So the seeds of the Civil War were sown at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.