Food for Thought from Thomas Jefferson

[rainman]

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

            At 5, began studying under his cousins tutor.

            At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

            At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

            At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.

            At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

            At 23, started his own law practice.

            At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

            At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America" and retired from his law practice.

            At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

            At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

            At 33, took three years to revise Virginia’s legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

            At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

            At 40, served in Congress for two years.

            At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

            At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

            At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.

            At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.

            At 57, was elected the third president of the United States.

            At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation’s size.

            At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

            At 65, retired to Monticello.

            At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

            At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.

            At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John            Adams

   Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government.  He understood actual history, the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man.  That happens to be way more than what most understand today.  Jefferson really knew his stuff.  A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

   John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
 
 

   When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.
            Thomas Jefferson

   The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
            Thomas Jefferson

   It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.  A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
           Thomas Jefferson

   I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
            Thomas Jefferson

   My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
           Thomas Jefferson

   No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
           Thomas Jefferson

   The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
           Thomas Jefferson

   The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
           Thomas Jefferson

   To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
             Thomas Jefferson

   Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
   I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.  If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.

   I wish we could get this out to everyone!!!

[Disco]

+1, and if you ever have even the slightest possibility of touring Monticello, I highly recommend it.

[Jabba]

Uh... I think Lincoln was the 1st republican president.

Jabba

[Willow]

Uh... I think Lincoln was the 1st republican president.

Jefferson's party called themselves Republican.  There was also an early party called the Democratic-Republican party.  Jackson formed what we know today as the Demorcatic party largely from Jefferson's Republicans and the Democratic-Republican party.

The Republican party that we know today was birthed much later, in the 1850's.

[musclehead]

heckuva resume, if he'd ridden a valk that would have completed it.

[hubcapsc]

+1, and if you ever have even the slightest possibility of touring Monticello, I highly recommend it.

There's a guy in Gap Mills West Virginia, Mark Soukup,  who was commissioned to build replacement Windsor chairs for
Monticello.

http://www.marksoukup.com/

We went by his place on the Wytheville ride last summer. He used to have several of his chairs displayed in
the lobby at the General Lewis in Lewisburg, I always looked at them and thought about how awesome they are,
until, finally...



-Mike "two Thomas Jefferson grade chairs...  "

[rainman]

I think that even in today's time Mr. Jefferson would have been a good president. heck he might have v toed the helmet law.

[Bobbo]

Interesting to research it some more:

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/j/jefferson-quotes.htm

[RP#62]

It sounds like there was no doubt in his mind on the meaning of the second amendment. 
-RP

[KW]

Greatest President in our history. Period.

He also translated a Bible from the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. (BTW - Not a bad version at all, but it's not the KJB!)

*The Republican Party was FOUNDED in Jackson, Michigan where the FIRST STATEWIDE convention was held on July 6, 1854 (with appologys to Ripon, Wisconson where the first COUNTY convention on March 20, 1854.) There’s a marker stone in Jackson if anyone wants to ride down and see it summer. Bobbo?

[Bobbo]

Greatest President in our history. Period.

He also translated a Bible from the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. (BTW - Not a bad version at all, but it's not the KJB!)

*The Republican Party was FOUNDED in Jackson, Michigan where the FIRST STATEWIDE convention was held on July 6, 1854 (with appologys to Ripon, Wisconson where the first COUNTY convention on March 20, 1854.) There’s a marker stone in Jackson if anyone wants to ride down and see it summer. Bobbo?

Jefferson, being a Deist, and not a Christian, sought to condense the New Testament into Jesus’ philosophy and life without the parts that describe Him as God or having any supernatural powers.  Jefferson believed that the supernatural and God references were added later and not actually true.

I went through Jackson MI a few years ago on one of our Great Lakes rides.  Didn’t stop for the marker.

[KW]

Bobbo, why do you keep making things up to fit your world view? There’s plenty of ‘things’ you can post and people you can quote without creating “facts” as you go. Arguing from such a close minded, and frankly, unintelligent point of view wins no arguments and influences no one to serious examine your opinions fairly. When you spew out bogus “facts”, you’re either marginalized or outright dismissed by the overwhelming majority.

I’ve read a total of FOUR biogerphies on Thomas Jefferson. You’ve “maybe” goggled his name. . .  What I’m about to write is absolutely historical FACT:

During Jefferson’s ENTIRE life, he was an ACTIVE Church going member. He OFTEN invoked the Holy Word of God and commonly quoted the Bible in his writings. He spoke passionately about the “God” given rights of man and the natural order established by “God.”  During his life, he DID NOT view himself as a ‘deists’ nor did others. There was NO QUESTION he was a man of God. And, he spoke OFTEN about his love of God and his duty to serve as MANDATED by God.

Bobbo, I’ve met many liberals in my time. . .  and enjoyed debating some of my friends who don’t share my world view. We respect each others and have a good time with it. But, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone like you. I’m really starting to think, because you’re POSTINGS are so ignorant and devoid of any factual basis, that you’re really not serious about any of this and are just sitting back ‘stirring the pot’ for fun.  If that’s the case, then I get it. . . but I have to tell you, you reached the point of being totally irrelevant about year ago.   
 
Now. .  if you want to talk about Lincoln being one of the WORSE presidents of all time, we can agree on that.

(ADMIN: Please note, I said Bobbo’s “postings” were ignorant and not him.)

[x]

Jefferson would be appalled at the Republican support of Wall Street bankers, and the deregulation that the Republiclowns seem driven to implement.  Jefferson had a major distrust of bankers, and rightly so.  Makes me wonder how you Republican supporters can celebrate Jefferson while ignoring the fact that current Republiclown incumbents seem to be in the pocket of Wall Street... and yes, too damn many Demodumbs as well.

[Bobbo]

I’ve read a total of FOUR biogerphies on Thomas Jefferson. You’ve “maybe” goggled his name. . .  What I’m about to write is absolutely historical FACT:

During Jefferson’s ENTIRE life, he was an ACTIVE Church going member. He OFTEN invoked the Holy Word of God and commonly quoted the Bible in his writings. He spoke passionately about the “God” given rights of man and the natural order established by “God.”  During his life, he DID NOT view himself as a ‘deists’ nor did others. There was NO QUESTION he was a man of God. And, he spoke OFTEN about his love of God and his duty to serve as MANDATED by God.

Bobbo, I’ve met many liberals in my time. . .  and enjoyed debating some of my friends who don’t share my world view. We respect each others and have a good time with it. But, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone like you. I’m really starting to think, because you’re POSTINGS are so ignorant and devoid of any factual basis, that you’re really not serious about any of this and are just sitting back ‘stirring the pot’ for fun.  If that’s the case, then I get it. . . but I have to tell you, you reached the point of being totally irrelevant about year ago.   

Even by using a lot of words, and claiming superior knowledge of Jefferson, you still haven’t described him as a Christian.

Deists believe in God (sometimes the Unitarian or Abrhamic God), go to church, and quote the Bible (as a philosophical guide)…  They just don’t believe that Jesus is God incarnate or had supernatural powers, thus not a Christian.  Deism derives its beliefs that God can exist without religion.

Can you provide links or details to some of these “biogerphies” that detail Jefferson’s adherence to the Christian religion?

http://www.deism.com/deism_defined.htm

[KW]

Wow. .  I AGREE (in part) with you Strong Eagle. Jefferson DID distrust and even, to some degree, despise bankers! That’s absolutely correct and a valid point. I disagree, as you suggest by inference, that Jefferson would have been FOR regulations. He would NOT have been in favor of government controlling private enterprise, by any name or definition. 

My own personal take is that most of the Framers would be disgusted with the current state of BOTH the political parties, though (IMO) not equally so. 

Bobbo; “No!” I’m done talking to you and won’t be posting any further responses, no matter what you post. Have at it. Peace.

[Hook#3287]

KW?  I don't feel I have a strong political mind or overly strong opinions right or left, but I'm curious why you feel Linclon was our worst presidents?

[Bobbo]

More interesting reading about Thomas Jefferson:

http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/JefCycl.html

KW:  No reply needed, but read his own letters about his beliefs about religion.  One of his strongest points he makes is that he will not share his beliefs with others, which directly defies the Christian mandate to proselytize.

[KW]

Hi Hook,
I probably overstated it. . . . I retract that remark. He wasn’t the worse, but Lincoln did many things that if you attended a public school in the 40’s through the 90’s, you most likely have never read about. 

This is probably going to start a big debate AND I understand that there is an intelligent counter-argument to everything I’m going to list. I also understand Lincoln needed to take the actions he did to maintain the Union, but suspending the Constitution under ANY circumstances threatens all of us (Please don’t anyone bring up Bush’s actions against NON-US citizens! Please! And, I know other Presidents have taken similar actions in time of war! Andrew Jackson to name one!)

Here we go, a 30 second rant against one of America’s iconic legends;

Lincoln closed down newspapers opposed to his war-time policies (he really did) and he ordered troops into the Border States in order to arrest the legally elected Governors (who had NOT succeeded, but were vocal in their opposition) He also imprisoned other ‘politicians’ in those same boarder states that opposed him (They’d be called political prisoners today.)

He suspended the right of trial (Habeas Corpus) and the right to be confronted by accusers. In others words; he held AMERICANS against their wills, without a right to a trial to seek release.

In the boarder states of Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri there was a serious moment of secession. And, their secession might well have changed the course of the war, though in Maryland, a Governor was elected who supported Lincoln shortly after the start of the war. Maryland remained divided though.

Kentucky for certain, and most likely Missouri would have both succeeded and join the Confederacy if Lincoln had not acted.

Lincoln's justification for such drastic actions was the preservation of the Union above all things. . . . including the integrity of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

So, anyone reading this can decide if his actions were justified. His plan of action was masterfully done and worked. The Union was preserved.

Lincoln was personally opposed to slavery. As early as 1848 he called it an “abomination before God.” You may have read in some liberal clap-trap that Lincoln was a racist. That’s pure nonsense. In a historical context he was as far removed from being a racist as any man of his time and I salute him for it, but understand, he really didn’t care one way or the other about slaves when the South first succeeded. He would have done ANYTHING to preserve the Union. However, the South succession had more to do with economics than slavery, but that’s another debate. 

Ok. .  Sorry. That’s it. . . .Man, I need to ride my bike. . .

[bogator]

 I'm gonna tell y'all somethin that you probably don't know---------Jefferson was a 33 degree freemason-------and freemasons worship SATAN------

[Bobbo]

I'm gonna tell y'all somethin that you probably don't know---------Jefferson was a 33 degree freemason-------and freemasons worship SATAN------

[rainman]

I'm gonna tell y'all somethin that you probably don't know---------Jefferson was a 33 degree freemason-------and freemasons worship SATAN------

I am a freemason and I DON'T WORSHIP SATAN!

[RoadKill]

I'm gonna tell y'all somethin that you probably don't know---------Jefferson was a 33 degree freemason-------and freemasons worship SATAN------

Freemasonry requires the belief in a supreme being and no other information is required. Does not matter what the name of that supreme being could be or what faith it is affiliated with. Politics and religion are not part of Freemasonry.

[Hook#3287]

Kw;   Hello to you.  Thing is, I agree with everything you stated.  Lincoln did all that and more.  He had help from some of his Cabinet, but he was responsible for everything his administration did.  I believe he did it all for one purpose, to follow his oath to protect the country and constitution. Even if it meant suspending, temporarily, the constitutional rights of suspected secessionists, be they citizens, politicians or newspaper editors.

If what he did keep Kentucky and Missouri from seceding, his policy worked.  Yes Maryland remained divided, as did many border states, including Virginia (hence why we have West Virginia).   I believe not as many  “Southerners” were all for succession, as people today believe.  Mostly all “Northerners” were not for it.

So color me someone who decides his actions were justified.

I’m glad we had a President, with his convictions, in office.  I wonder what our country would look like had Douglas won the election.

[hubcapsc]

Even if it meant suspending, temporarily, the constitutional rights of suspected secessionists, be they citizens, politicians or newspaper editors.


And burning and pillaging and starving...

In letters to his son G.W.C. Lee in early 1862, Robert E. Lee wrote:

... The enemy is quiet & safe in his big boats. He is threatening every
avenue. Pillaging, burning & robbing where he can venture with
impunity & alarming women & children. Every day I have reports of
landing in force, marching &c which turns out to be some marauding party.

... No news. Enemy quiet & retired to his islands. The main[land]
seemed too insecure for him & he never went 400 yards from his
steamers, not even to the extent of the range of his guns. After
burning some houses, three, on the river bank & feeling our proximity
unpleasant, he retreated to Port Royal again.

...Every one on the coast has suffered, but they bear it manfully.
No civilized nation within my knowledge has ever carried on war
as the United States government has against us.

Burning ladies out of their houses didn't win the war, though... that took marching an army through
the heartland and burning the cities...




I believe not as many  “Southerners” were all for succession, as people today believe.

Zero US regiments were raised in South Carolina, though some slaves were armed by Lincoln and sent back...

Mostly all “Northerners” were not for it.

Copperheadism was a major issue in the 1864 presidential election
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperheads_%28politics%29

There was no way the Yankee could stand for secession... they knew that if we were free, we wouldn't be coming
after them, but that we were going to take our share of the Western Territories... We considered the Arizona territory ours
during the war.

-Mike

[Hook#3287]

Hey Mike;

I don't want to start "The War Between the States" again.  My question was why KW considered Lincoln the worst Pres.   

The early 1860's was a terrible time for all "Americans" but unfortunately for the south, most of the battlefields were south of the Mason Dixon line. Or in the southern part of the northern and border states.

The Federals did not invent burning and pillaging and starving, but used it as a war strategy to prevent the Southern armies from acquiring food, supplies and comfort.  Sherman made his march to break the will of the southern people.   Whether it worked or not is still a debate 150 years later.

Who was it that said "War is Hell!"  Patten?  He was right.

The "copperheads" were not secessionists, but they were against the war. 

Robert E. Lee was a great man and better General.  But even he had reservations on which side to join, didn't he?

The "Civil War" was a dark period with many, many casualties.  But most, if not all,  were American casualties.

I know the reasons for “The War” can not be put into a synopsis’ of a few sentences and I could be wrong, but I believe the war started because the wealthy plantation owners knew that their corrupt and outdated system of getting their cotton to market was under fire.  They also considered that their valuable property (slaves) was to be voted illegal by the northern US majority.   This they felt they could not survive.  They felt the Fed Govn didn’t have the right to tell them or their state, how to do business.  This was the underlining reason for the war, not the reason for war.  The Southern state governments were in line with or persuaded to adapt this way of thought and used it as the reason for secession.   The present federal administration would not have it and invaded the southern states to bring them back. 

The war then, to the common man of the south, became a war of protecting the homeland.  My point being, the common man, up to that point, was not concerned about the property value of slaves or cotton unless they were involved in the industry, which many were.  The back woodsman from Kentucky, or the small farm non-slave owners of Georgia, did not and would not, lay down their lives for wealthy plantation owners or misguided state governments.  But like all Americans, mess with the homeland, and watch out.

And fight they did.  With less of everything they fought for 4 years and kicked the crap out of an army that was bigger and better supplied, in many, many battles.

No one can question the fortitude or courage of the southern solders, but the reasons they were fighting is something for much discussion.

But in the words of one American that got his 15 min of fame.  “Can’t we all just git along”

Peace Bro (unless you invade my homeland)
Bill

[hubcapsc]

Hey Mike;

Hey Bill...

I don't want to start "The War Between the States" again.  My question was why KW considered Lincoln the worst Pres.

I don't think of him as The President (that was Jefferson Davis)... I think of him as "the leader of the enemy"... it was the South's misfortune that
the North had such a strong leader...

Robert E. Lee was a great man and better General.  But even he had reservations on which side to join, didn't he?

He was a Unionist, like many Southern men, including my personal hero Wade Hampton... when forced to choose, they chose their homes. Other Southern men,
like General George Thomas (crushed the remnants of the Confederate Army at Franklin), felt it was their duty to stay with the Union. Thomas was disowned by
his family and friends after the war.

I know the reasons for “The War” can not be put into a synopsis’ of a few sentences and I could be wrong, but I believe the war started because the wealthy plantation owners knew that their corrupt and outdated system of getting their cotton to market was under fire. 

I believe the reason for the secession of South Carolina is what was explicitly stated in the Declaration of Cause for Secession:

On the 4th day of March next, [Lincoln's] party will take possession of the
Government.  It has announced that the South shall be excluded from
the common territory, that the [Supreme Court] shall be made
sectional, and that a war must be waged against slavery until it shall
cease throughout the United States.

The guaranties of the Constitution will then no longer exist; the
equal rights of the States will be lost.  The slaveholding States will
no longer have the power of self-government, or self-protection, and
the Federal Government will have become their enemy.

I believe the invasion of the South by the North is the reason for the war.


Peace Bro (unless you invade my homeland)
Bill

Now that's what I'm talkin' about 

-Mike

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

+1, and if you ever have even the slightest possibility of touring Monticello, I highly recommend it.

 



 

I'm really diggin' the bike calendar on the refrigerator 

[Marcel]

Between You and Duffy , Joe that bike is legend in the Valkyrie Lore of Legends.

Bad Mojo,,,Long Live Bad Mojo and Long Live the Honda Valkyrie.

Valhala ain't a bad place to be.

[hubcapsc]

I'm really diggin' the bike calendar on the refrigerator 

Hey Joe... you musta made it home from Texas?

-Mike

[Bobbo]

I think Jefferson would have embraced this person's writings:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/02/27/Jesus.scholar/index.html?hpt=C1

[Bobbo]

Jefferson was quite forthright in his religious beliefs.  Here is a letter to William Short, dated October 31, 1819.  In this letter, Jefferson describes himself as an Epicurian.

Letter to William Short

An except of Epicurian doctrine is "Gods, an order of beings next superior to man, enjoying in their sphere, their own felicities; but not meddling with the concerns of the scale of beings below them."

This is even more evidence that Jefferson was not a Christian.  Since Epicurians believe the Gods don't meddle in mankind's affairs, there would be no reason for a savior from God.

Mr. Jefferson was an amazing man, and we are fortunate to have him as a founder.  We need more people like him to continue his vision.

[usmc1142]

wow! I thought Thomas Jefferson died before 1861. 
  I live in Missouri and think I'm pretty right wing, and I think the world of Lincoln.  Go visit his grave, it's pretty inspiring.  If Lincoln was not assassinated I think this country would have been SOOO much better than it is today.  I would like to tell you why, but it's not politically correct.
 Anyway, what did you do by age 40 compared to Jefferson?  I'm impressed, sorry some of you feel so judgemental and righteous. I wish kids 180 years after I die would be hearing about me.
  Being the president at ANY time in our history says something about you, and in my opinion, even the worst president was still a great american.

[Bobbo]

I live in Missouri and think I'm pretty right wing, and I think the world of Lincoln.  Go visit his grave, it's pretty inspiring.  If Lincoln was not assassinated I think this country would have been SOOO much better than it is today.  I would like to tell you why, but it's not politically correct.

Since you are a fellow Missourian, you need to keep up the state motto of "Show Me" and let us know the reason you find Lincoln a great man!  I enjoyed my continued study of Jefferson, so let's examine other presidents that lived during formative years.

[Sludge]

I'm gonna tell y'all somethin that you probably don't know---------Jefferson was a 33 degree freemason-------and freemasons worship SATAN------

Freemasonry requires the belief in a supreme being and no other information is required. Does not matter what the name of that supreme being could be or what faith it is affiliated with. Politics and religion are not part of Freemasonry.

Well said RoadKill!

I too am a Mason and I do NOT worship Satan.  Nor is religion or politics mentioned in the lodge.

[Bobbo]

I'm gonna tell y'all somethin that you probably don't know---------Jefferson was a 33 degree freemason-------and freemasons worship SATAN------

Freemasonry requires the belief in a supreme being and no other information is required. Does not matter what the name of that supreme being could be or what faith it is affiliated with. Politics and religion are not part of Freemasonry.

Well said RoadKill!

I too am a Mason and I do NOT worship Satan.  Nor is religion or politics mentioned in the lodge.

I'm not a Mason, but I took bogator's post as a joke, hence the "Church Lady" response!

[usmc1142]

well bobbo, I think Lincoln is a man to be admired.  He taught himself to read, overcame great poverty, wasn't lazy by any means, preserved the union, ignored harsh criticism ( a trait I wish I had)
 loved his family,  didn't hold a grudge, (another trait I wish I had), and lived in a cabin,(sounds good to me).  What about you?  Do you like Lincoln?  If so, why, if not, why not?
  I also believe Jefferson was a great president and man, much smarter and intellectual than I will EVER be.

[Robert]

Many claimed that Jefferson was a deist and when he made his bible he omitted all miraculous events of Jesus from his “Bible.” Rarely do those who make this claim let Jefferson speak for himself. Jefferson's own words explain that his intent for that book was not for it to be a “Bible,” but rather for it to be a primer for the Indians on the teachings of Christ (which is why Jefferson titled that work, “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth”). What Jefferson did was to take the “red letter” portions of the New Testament and publish these teachings in order to introduce the Indians to Christian morality. And as President of the United States, Jefferson signed a treaty with the Kaskaskia tribe wherein he provided—at the government's expense—Christian missionaries to the Indians. In fact, Jefferson himself declared, “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” While many might question this claim, the fact remains that Jefferson called himself a Christian, not a deist.
  None of the Founders mentioned fit the definition of a deist. And as is typical with those who make this claim, they name only a handful of Founders and then generalize the rest. This in itself is a mistake, for there are over two hundred Founders (fifty-five at the Constitutional Convention, ninety who framed the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights, and fifty-six who signed the Declaration) and any generalization of the Founders as deists is completely inaccurate.
  The reason that such critics never mention any other Founders is evident. For example, consider what must be explained away if the following signers of the Constitution were to be mentioned: Charles Pinckney and John Langdon—founders of the American Bible Society; James McHenry—founder of the Baltimore Bible Society; Rufus King—helped found a Bible society for Anglicans; Abraham Baldwin—a chaplain in the Revolution and considered the youngest theologian in America; Roger Sherman, William Samuel Johnson, John Dickinson, and Jacob Broom—also theological writers; James Wilson and William Patterson—placed on the Supreme Court by President George Washington, they had prayer over juries in the U. S. Supreme Court room; and the list could go on. And this does not even include the huge number of thoroughly evangelical Christians who signed the Declaration or who helped frame the Bill of Rights.

[Robert]

Jefferson's letter to Danbury Baptists wall of separation of church and state short explanation

Jefferson took the gloves off when he asserted that the proclamations of thanksgivings and fasts were "practiced indeed by the Executive of another nation as the legal head of its church," i.e., by George III, King of England. By identifying the proclamation of thanksgivings and fasts as "British," Jefferson cursed them, for in the Republican lexicon British was a dirty word, a synonym for "Anglomane," "Monocrat," "Tory," terms with which the Republicans had demonized the Federalists for a decade for their alleged plans to reverse the Revolution by reimposing a British-style monarchy on the United States. One of the most obnoxious features of the Federalists' American monarchy, as the Republicans depicted their putative project, was a church established by law, and Jefferson doubtless expected those who read his message to understand that, by supporting "British" fasts and thanksgivings, the Federalists were scheming, as always, to open a door to the introduction of an ecclesiastical tyranny.
   So the very men that were subject to Britans control by religion were the very ones wanting to establish the US as a place where men could worship the God of the Bible freely not under compulsion as a form of control. But not for it to be removed from government just that government couldn't establish one religion over another for the control of the people.
 Personally I dont think that I may have become a Christian if it had been forced down my throat the way it was on the founders. I also say that coming from such religious oppression I may too explore all things out there to see what they were. This includes masonry and such groups, that wouldn't mean that I would be in agreement with all their ideas and plans. Nor that I would give up on the Bible. Briton shows how religion is used as a control but this has nothing to do with the reading of the Bible to establish a relationship with Jesus Christ.

[Robert]

What a far cry from today's military

[Bobbo]

Many claimed that Jefferson was a deist...

It would be better to simply post a link to the blog instead of plagiarizing it.

David Barton Letter