The Religious And Moral Wisdom Of Thomas Jefferson

The men and women who shaped our world—in their own words. The Wisdom Library invites you on a journey through the lives and works of the world’s greatest thinkers and leaders. Compiled by scholars, this series presents excerpts from the most important and revealing writings of the most remarkable minds of all time. THE WISDOM OF THOMAS JEFFERSON “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” Statesman. Diplomat. Politician. Scholar. Inventor. Architect. There is no shortage of words to describe America’s third president and true Renaissance man, Thomas Jefferson. As the author of the Declaration of Independence, he stands at the heart of the American experiment; his writings and ideas mark him as a draftsman of the American experience. Now, in The Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson, this powerful advocate of liberty comes to life through his own eloquent words. Here is the Thomas Jefferson who oversaw the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis/Clark exploration, established diplomatic relations with Great Britain, prohibited the importation of slaves, and grappled with his own contested election to the presidency. Here, too, is the gifted scholar and architect, a man who advanced the education of America by founding the University of Virginia while also designing and building his renowned plantation, Monticello. Drawing upon Jefferson’s prolific body of letters and writings, this revealing book chronicles the birth and infancy of our democracy and provides fascinating insight into Jefferson’s relationships with such historical luminaries as George Washington, James Madison, and his rival and colleague John Adams. Provocative and inspiring, challenging and informative, The Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson lets readers know this man of conviction, principle, and deep thought as someone who not only forged the spirit of our country but whose actions and ideas continue to influence us today.

Allen Jayne analyzes the ideology of the Declaration of Independence—and its implications—by going back to the sources of Jefferson's ideas: Bolingbroke, Kames, Reid, and Locke. He concludes that the Declaration must be read as an attack on two claims of absolute authority: that of government over its subjects and of religion over the minds of men. Today's world is more secular than Jefferson's, and the importance of philosophical theology in eighteenth-century critical thought must be recognized in order to understand fully and completely the Declaration's implications. Jayne addresses this need by putting religion back into the discussion.

"Thomas Jefferson Still Survives!" were, 2nd President of the United States, John Adams' final words. In point of fact, his friend, Thomas Jefferson, had died earlier that same day, on July 4th 1826. However, Adams' comment can be taken another way, in that Thomas Jefferson's work and wisdom lives on in the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and the University of Virginia, as well as in many other areas such as the real estate a great many Americans live on, previously known as the Louisiana Purchase. Certainly, it is hard to find another American who has contributed more to the success of the United States of America than Thomas Jefferson. His wisdom helped lead a fledgling nation into greatness and, surely, can help us continue that greatness and add to it today. After reading Thomas Jefferson's collected wisdom in this book you will truly believe that "Thomas Jefferson Still Survives!"

The Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth as it is formally titled, was a book constructed by Thomas Jefferson in the latter years of his life by cutting and pasting numerous sections from various Bibles as extractions of the doctrine of Jesus. Jefferson's composition excluded sections of the New Testament containing supernatural aspects as well as perceived misinterpretations he believed had been added by the Four Evangelists. In 1895, the Smithsonian Institution under the leadership of librarian Cyrus Adler purchased the original Jefferson Bible from Jefferson's great-granddaughter Carolina Randolph for $400. A conservation effort commencing in 2009, in partnership with the museum's Political History department, allowed for a public unveiling in an exhibit open from November 11, 2011, through May 28, 2012, at the National Museum of American History.

Presents the philosophies of Thomas Jefferson as a disciple of scientific method during a time it took courage to do so. Looks at his theories on ethics, ideology and his views on society.

People familiar with Jefferson's deism, Unitarianism and enthusiasm for Bible study do not seem to appreciate the importance of his religious beliefs to his political beliefs.

In 1804 Thomas Jefferson decided to study the gospels to see if he could distill the essence of Jesus' teachings into a concise book that could be quickly read and easily understood. This volume is the result, offering valuable insights into the teachings of Jesus Christ and into the mind and beliefs of Thomas Jefferson.