“All attempts to influence it (the mind) by temporal punishments or burthens are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion ...”
If that is really what Jefferson meant - I agree..holy author - the Lord Jesus Christ.Jefferson’s actions speak loudly. He gave land to Indian missionaries, installed chaplains on the government payroll, and provided for the punishment of disrespectful and blasphemous soldiers.
“...but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion...”
Jefferson was not referring to paganism wiccanism or especially mohamedanism. That includes “pagans”. And he was not demanding that public monies be used to build pagan “prayer” circles.
"Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination."
-Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom