The Jefferson Bible


Book Description

Jefferson regarded Jesus as a moral guide rather than a divinity. In his unique interpretation of the Bible, he highlights Christ's ethical teachings, discarding the scriptures' supernatural elements, to reflect the deist view of religion.




The Jefferson Bible


Book Description

The life and times of a uniquely American testament In his retirement, Thomas Jefferson edited the New Testament with a penknife and glue, removing all mention of miracles and other supernatural events. Inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment, Jefferson hoped to reconcile Christian tradition with reason by presenting Jesus of Nazareth as a great moral teacher—not a divine one. Peter Manseau tells the story of the Jefferson Bible, exploring how each new generation has reimagined the book in its own image as readers grapple with both the legacy of the man who made it and the place of religion in American life. Completed in 1820 and rediscovered by chance in the late nineteenth century after being lost for decades, Jefferson's cut-and-paste scripture has meant different things to different people. Some have held it up as evidence that America is a Christian nation founded on the lessons of the Gospels. Others see it as proof of the Founders' intent to root out the stubborn influence of faith. Manseau explains Jefferson's personal religion and philosophy, shedding light on the influences and ideas that inspired him to radically revise the Gospels. He situates the creation of the Jefferson Bible within the broader search for the historical Jesus, and examines the book's role in American religious disputes over the interpretation of scripture. Manseau describes the intrigue surrounding the loss and rediscovery of the Jefferson Bible, and traces its remarkable reception history from its first planned printing in 1904 for members of Congress to its persistent power to provoke and enlighten us today.




A Jefferson Bible for the Twenty-First Century


Book Description

Lists candidates for the "best" and "worst" excerpts from a variety of scriptures, including the Hebrew Bible, the Qur'an, the Bhagavadgîtâ, Buddhist sutras, and the Book of Mormon, and invites readers' opinions on the selections.




The Jefferson Lies


Book Description

Noted historian Barton sets the record straight on the lies and misunderstandings that have tarnished the legacy of Thomas Jefferson.




Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an


Book Description

In this original and illuminating book, Denise A. Spellberg reveals a little-known but crucial dimension of the story of American religious freedom—a drama in which Islam played a surprising role. In 1765, eleven years before composing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson bought a Qur’an. This marked only the beginning of his lifelong interest in Islam, and he would go on to acquire numerous books on Middle Eastern languages, history, and travel, taking extensive notes on Islam as it relates to English common law. Jefferson sought to understand Islam notwithstanding his personal disdain for the faith, a sentiment prevalent among his Protestant contemporaries in England and America. But unlike most of them, by 1776 Jefferson could imagine Muslims as future citizens of his new country. Based on groundbreaking research, Spellberg compellingly recounts how a handful of the Founders, Jefferson foremost among them, drew upon Enlightenment ideas about the toleration of Muslims (then deemed the ultimate outsiders in Western society) to fashion out of what had been a purely speculative debate a practical foundation for governance in America. In this way, Muslims, who were not even known to exist in the colonies, became the imaginary outer limit for an unprecedented, uniquely American religious pluralism that would also encompass the actual despised minorities of Jews and Catholics. The rancorous public dispute concerning the inclusion of Muslims, for which principle Jefferson’s political foes would vilify him to the end of his life, thus became decisive in the Founders’ ultimate judgment not to establish a Protestant nation, as they might well have done. As popular suspicions about Islam persist and the numbers of American Muslim citizenry grow into the millions, Spellberg’s revelatory understanding of this radical notion of the Founders is more urgent than ever. Thomas Jefferson’s Qur’an is a timely look at the ideals that existed at our country’s creation, and their fundamental implications for our present and future.




Thomas Jefferson's 1804 First Abridgement of Jesus' Words


Book Description

"Jefferson was a deist and his 'Jefferson Bible' left out all the miracles and included only the moral teachings of Jesus." So goes the line in much of academia today. With impeccable scholarship, Dr. Patton has carefully researched, reconstructed, and reproduced Jefferson's The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth. He convincingly demonstrates that Jefferson never intended his 'wee little book' to be a new version of the Bible; rather, it was to be a compendium of Bible verses that Jefferson especially recommended to Native Americans.Jefferson includes many significant verses in this compendium such as: Luke 3:23-38 which traces Jesus' ancestry back to Adam; Mark 14:61-62 where Jesus proclaimed that He is indeed the Son of God, the Messiah (Christ), and the great I AM of the Old Testament, Exodus 3:14; Matthew 11:4-5 where Jesus tells the disciples of John the Baptist that his Messiahship is evidenced by healing the blind, the lame, and raising the dead. Those who read Dr. Patton's book with an open mind will conclude that Thomas Jefferson was closer to orthodoxy than many have previously thought.- Colonal John EidsmoeSenior Counsel & Resident Scholar, Foundation for Moral Law - Montgomery, AlabamaAuthor of: Historical and Theological Foundations of Law (a three volume set) and Christianity and the Constitution (and many other books).Dr. Judd Patton, Dr. Mark Beliles and David Barton are to be commended for correcting the prevailing liberal view that Thomas Jefferson did not respect the Bible, and indeed cut it up and "mangled" Holy Writ?it is valuable to know?that he held the Scriptures in high regard and simply edited this [1804] version of the Gospels concentrating on Jesus' moral teachings, as a manual for missionary use to Native Americans.- Garrett Ward ShedonThe John Morton Beaty Professor of Politics, University of Virginia's College at Wise, Virginia Author of: The Political Philosophy of Thomas Jefferson, Religion and Political Culture in Jefferson's Virginia, Jefferson and Ataturk: Political Philosophies, and What Would Jefferson Say?







The Book that Made Your World


Book Description

Understand where we came from. Whether you're an avid student of the Bible or a skeptic of its relevance, The Book That Made Your World will transform your perception of its influence on virtually every facet of Western civilization. Indian philosopher Vishal Mangalwadi reveals the personal motivation that fueled his own study of the Bible and systematically illustrates how its precepts became the framework for societal structure throughout the last millennium. From politics and science, to academia and technology, the Bible's sacred copy became the key that unlocked the Western mind. Through Mangalwadi's wide-ranging and fascinating investigation, you'll discover: What triggered the West's passion for scientific, medical, and technological advancement How the biblical notion of human dignity informs the West's social structure and how it intersects with other worldviews How the Bible created a fertile ground for women to find social and economic empowerment How the Bible has uniquely equipped the West to cultivate compassion, human rights, prosperity, and strong families The role of the Bible in the transformation of education How the modern literary notion of a hero has been shaped by the Bible's archetypal protagonist Journey with Mangalwadi as he examines the origins of a civilization's greatness and the misguided beliefs that threaten to unravel its progress. Learn how the Bible transformed the social, political, and religious institutions that have sustained Western culture for the past millennium, and discover how secular corruption endangers the stability and longevity of Western civilization. Endorsements: “This is an extremely significant piece of work with huge global implications. Vishal brings a timely message.” (Ravi Zacharias, author, Walking from East to West and Beyond Opinion) “In polite society, the mere mention of the Bible often introduces a certain measure of anxiety. A serious discussion on the Bible can bring outright contempt. Therefore, it is most refreshing to encounter this engaging and informed assessment of the Bible’s profound impact on the modern world. Where Bloom laments the closing of the American mind, Mangalwadi brings a refreshing optimism.” (Stanley Mattson, founder and president, C. S. Lewis Foundation) “Vishal Mangalwadi recounts history in very broad strokes, always using his cross-cultural perspectives for highlighting the many benefits of biblical principles in shaping civilization.” (George Marsden, professor, University of Notre Dame; author, Fundamentalism and American Culture)




The Quotable Jefferson


Book Description

More than any other Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson made his reputation on the brilliance of his writing, and few writers have said so much on so many subjects. This comprehensive book demonstrates that thoroughly.




The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth


Book Description

Excerpt from The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth: Extracted Textually From the Gospels, Together With a Comparison of His Doctrines With Those of Others Mt. V. 1-12; L. Vi. 24, 25, 26; Mt. V. 13-47; L. Vi. 34, 35, 36; Mt. Vi. 1-34; vii. 1, 2; L. Vi. 38; Mt. Vii. 3 - 20; xii. 35, 36, 37; vii. 24-29; The sermon on the mount. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.