[DJ MacWoW]

Jefferson was no atheist.

On July 4, 1776, Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams "to bring in a device for a seal for the United States of America." Franklin's proposal adapted the biblical story of the parting of the Red Sea . Jefferson first recommended the "Children of Israel in the Wilderness, led by a Cloud by Day, and a Pillar of Fire by night. . . ." He then embraced Franklin's proposal and rewrote it. Jefferson's revision of Franklin's proposal was presented by the committee to Congress on August 20. Although not accepted these drafts reveal the religious temper of the Revolutionary period. Franklin and Jefferson were among the most theologically liberal of the Founders, yet they used biblical imagery for this important task.

[sueuprising]

Biblical imagery was readily used in past centuries to illustrate points, because most people were Biblically literate unlike today. Jefferson did believe that the Indians might be a lost tribe of Israel which was a popular assumption. He was not a Christian, although he like nearly every politician including Franklin thought that the morals and values inherent in the Christian religion were essential to maintain in the new nation. He was not a religious man by any means, but an interesting one nonetheless.