Thomas Jefferson's Bible

[FRED]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

This thread's topic is not related to economics or finance, but I am loathe to move it to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss so long as the discussion remains civilized. Discussions of religion and politics rarely stay that way for long, however. Don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss.

[Raz]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

This thread's topic is not related to economics or finance, but I am loathe to move it to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss so long as the discussion remains civilized. Discussions of religion and politics rarely stay that way for long, however. Don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss.

Thank you, FRED.
I couldn't agree more.

[sn1p3r]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

All this talk of forefathers and God is going to get us on a watch list

[metalman]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

All this talk of forefathers and God is going to get us on a watch list

fred moves or deletes the thread when we get one of these...

[Raz]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

Not many "Bible Thumpers" on iTulip, Metalman.

Your more likely to see someone attacked and insulted as "needing a psychiatrist" or "should join AA" if they attempt to defend the Christians from hostile ignoramuses or "libelous lying liars".

[ASH]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

Discussions of religion and politics rarely stay that way for long, however. Don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss.

I think all the raving is on the Cap and Trade thread today...

[cjppjc]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

This thread's topic is not related to economics or finance, but I am loathe to move it to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss so long as the discussion remains civilized. Discussions of religion and politics rarely stay that way for long, however. Don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss.

Rand and Rave? Rand? Too funny.

So far this has been a civil thread.

I would like to suggest that people (like Jefferson) who are devote, but have no use for the ceremony, or stories, are also critics of the bureaucracy of organized religion. The three serve different functions. There may not be a great arguement to be made for the third, but the first two require alot of thought and effort.

[reallife]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

Jefferson was a closet Atheist.

Me too.

[sishya]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

This thread's topic is not related to economics or finance, but I am loathe to move it to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss so long as the discussion remains civilized. Discussions of religion and politics rarely stay that way for long, however. Don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to Rand and Rave: Political Abyss.

Please move it to Rant and Rave. It does not belong here - basically making Bible a punching bag for all.

[dummass]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

That's really sad. There is no place for the mentally ill in society today. Where's the compassion?

[santafe2]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

Please move it to Rant and Rave. It does not belong here - basically making Bible a punching bag for all.

I understand your point of view and will refrain from taking direct aim at what I assume is your bible but I disagree with your proposed censorship.

Thomas Jefferson was at the time of this writing 70 years old and communicating with his now good friend John Adams who shared many of the same views. That is, that much of the bible is organized religious nonsense but the core of it without the superstition and magic is a "diamond". You are of course free to disagree with that point of view.

Had that been said by a modern media star, it would be easy to dismiss it but it was stated nearly 200 years ago by one of the founders of what many like to call "our Christian nation". I think it's important for us as Americans to know that our founders deeply disliked the organized church as many Americans do today.

But that disregard for organized religion did not translate for Jefferson or Adams into a disregard for the founder of the church. I've found the suggested reading and other insights on this thread illuminating.

[santafe2]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

Oh well, tried to save it. Good post Munger.

[Raz]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

[quote=santafe2;106670]I understand your point of view and will refrain from taking direct aim at what I assume is your bible but I disagree with your proposed censorship.[quote]

Moving this thread to another forum is not censorship.
This is not news of any kind - except to someone who has been asleep for 195 years.

No agnostic or atheist is prevented from trashing all things religious.
They are simply afforded a proper forum in which to do so.

[Shakespear]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

Bravo santafe2.

The "diamond" is what ought to be revered ;) A pure substance needing nothing more nor less.

[shadrack]

Re: Thomas Jefferson's Bible

Am I reading something into this statement or did Jefferson call the Bible a pile of shit? I've always liked his attitude but he would have been killed by those forgiving Christians if they'd gotten a hold if this letter.

Jefferson didn’t subscribe to the notion of textual authority and with respect to Christianity he was sure that the early Christians had corrupted the teachings and ideas of Jesus in the New Testament by adding supernatural elements. Jefferson thought that Jesus' essential message was still there only needing extraction and clarification.

I think its very interesting that a Deist developed his own version of the New Testament, since Deists held views to the converse of the then popular evangelicalist movement. For believers and non-believers, the Jefferson Bible is worth a read, if for nothing else, seeing what Jefferson uncovered in the “dung hill”.