“The issue of whether Jefferson was a deist or not doubtless exists because after his public career was over he rejected the deity of Jesus Christ:”
I began my part of this discussion by observing that, if Jefferson was a Deist, he was a most unconventional one (#70, “If Jefferson was a Deist, spirited, he was very unconventional, in blatant defiance of all the usual characteristics defining the term.”), following that with several quotes from various Jefferson letters in support of my observation.
This invited a swarm of dissections of Jeffersonian religious philosophy, all of which I welcome. To merely declare Jefferson a “Deist” without going into specifics, simply allows Christian Deniers the opportunity to declare that America was not founded on Judeo-Christian belief and principles (“The letters and other documents of Jefferson fixes exactly the problem critics face in attempting to deny a Christian influence on the making of America, including The Declaration itself. To tailor the charge of Deism to any of the Founding Fathers, the critics must redefine ‘Deist’ to fit the changing characteristics of the different Founders.) It seems that we might address the same point to the many “friends” of the Founding Fathers.
I’ve seen nothing that disputes my observation in post #70, and a great deal that supports it (most of the material I offered being of a date later than the Jefferson Administration - a letter to William Short, October 31, 1819, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson in 19 volumes, Memorial Edition, edited by Albert Ellery Burgh, a letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, February 21, 1825, Ibid, a letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, November 2, 1822, Ibid.)
I fail to see how attributing the founding of our nation to our Judeo-Christian tradition “cheapens” Christianity. The tail does not wag the dog. To declare that “Biblical Christianity is more than a mere system of morals” does not address at all the fact of a “system of morals” based on Christianity.
“I write with freedom, because while I claim a right to believe in one God, if so my reason tells me, I yield as freely to others that of believing in three. Both religions, I find, make honest men, and that is the only point society has any right to look to. Although this mutual freedom should produce mutual indulgence, yet I wish not to be brought in question before the public on this or any other subject, and I pray you to consider me as writing under that trust. I take no part in controversies, religious or political. At the age of eighty, tranquility is the greatest good of life, and the strongest of our desires that of dying in the good will of all mankind. And with the assurance of all my good will to Unitarian and Trinitarian, to Whig and Tory, accept for yourself that of my entire respect.”
. . . . . Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Smith, December 8, 1822,
Apologies for the tardiness of my reply. The wife and I have been out of state celebrating the accomplishments of our grandson, who is this year a senior in a private high school.
Well said. Our Declaration and Constitution are the product of a unique history and tradition of which a large part is biblically based. I don't see what the big deal is. We were a Christian society without a theocratic government.
Oh, and FWIW, islam has no legitimate place in our society.
The proper answer (to the title of the thread) is (((( NO ))))..............
The God in the US Constitution is “generic”...
Its is a generic God..
And the truth is God “IS” generic.. since there is only one..
You know............. the real one...
But thats the God in the mentality of the founders..
Many have multiple Gods or even themselves(like atheists)..
But the God in the US Constitution is generic..
Whatever you call god is God.. perfectly OK to the US Constitution..
Some worship the Bible, or their Church or even some Used Jesus Salesman.. or even an Arabic Pedophile..
But thats OK to the US Constitution.. GOD is whatever you say “IT” is..
The genius of it all is amazing..
Congratulations and you do more than enough! What a wonderful God we have!