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To: loveliberty2

I respect Jefferson’s erudition and contribution.

Nothing you have posted would lead me to conclude that he recognized the spiritual state of Sin, and the concomitant need for a Savior - or that Jesus in any way claimed to be the prophesied Messiah.

In contrast, what he wrote indicates that he believed only in the temporal perfection (i.e., works righteousness) attainable (or so he apparently thought) through following Jesus’ precepts.

His disparagement of what he called Platonists indicates that he was an existentialist who discounted the spiritual realm: a man of this world.


38 posted on 03/01/2017 11:46:38 AM PST by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - JRRT)
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To: YogicCowboy
Jefferson: June 29, 1824, letter to Van Buren:
"If no action is to be deemed virtuous for which malice can imagine a sinister motive, then there never was a virtuous action, no, not even in the life of our savior himself. but he has taught us to judge the tree by it’s fruit, and to leave motives to him who can see into them."

40 posted on 03/01/2017 12:04:46 PM PST by loveliberty2
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