>> “Thomas Jefferson was a deist (as was Madison, and perhaps Washington and Franklin as well).” <<
An oft repeated lie.
It is not a lie.
None of the founders were deists; all believed in a God that was active in his creation. Jefferson in particular even “translated” his own Bible to agree with his beliefs on Christ.
Jefferson lacerated the "new testament" in order to remove all the supernaturalism from it. He did this because he rejected the supernatural and merely regarded J*sus as a great moral philosopher--and no more than that.
Why don't you look up Jefferson's lacerated "bible" or get yourself a copy?
Somewhere in my collection I have a book of the notes for the sermons that Jefferson preached in the House chamber every sunday.
None of them show the slightest doubt that God was our creator, and that he worked in the lives of men.
You’re too gulible.
Did did indeed work to make the Bible conform to the God of his own liking, but he did not remove all supernatural from it.
No supernatural acts of Christ are included at all in this regard, while the few things of a supernatural nature (or possibly so) include receiving of the Holy Spirit,[11] angels,[12] Noah’s Ark and the Great Flood,[13] the Tribulation,[14] the Second Coming,[15] the resurrection of the dead,[16] a future kingdom,[17][18] and eternal life,[19] Heaven,[20] Hell[21] and punishment in everlasting fire, the Devil,[22] and the soldiers falling backwards to the ground in response to Jesus stating, “I am he.”[23] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Bible#Content