"Christianity...(has become) the most perverted system that ever shone on man. ...Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus."

On what that Paul wrote did Thomas Jefferson base this conclusion?

RickJ

Thomas Jefferson was not a Christian nor a Historian.

He in fact rewrote the entire new testament on what he felt was accurate based on his "feelings" ...despite his lack of knowledge of texts, writings of the Church Fathers, etc.

So to answer your question: Nothing.

Fr_Chuck

Yes, This is in fact merely one of many things Thomas Jefferson and his writings were said or used to attack Christianity, It is also a letter, not any government documnet that supported the seperation of Church and State ( with actually this suppose to be protecting the Church from the State)

So the statement as note is false and has no value what so ever.

Dark_crow

Jefferson did remain loyal to his Anglican\Episcopal upbringing and had an Episcopal minister at his bedside before he died. But the issue is not whether he was a Christian or not.

There were several aspects of Christian teachings that not only Jefferson did not accept but also many others who would deny that they are not Christians…the divinity of Christ comes to my mind.

ordinaryguy

I agree that Paul took the early church in a different direction than the one Jesus started it in. But, like Jefferson, I base my opinion on intuition rather than expertise.

As I see it, Jesus taught that the whole idea of a "Chosen People" was bogus. Paul missed this point and taught that followers of Jesus were the new "Chosen Ones". Also, he borrowed the "Sacrificial Lamb" model of atonement from the Jewish culture in a misguided attempt to sell Jesus to the Jews. This view casts God as a stern Judge, rather than the loving Father that Jesus sought to reveal.

Fr_Chuck

There are many opinions of bibical teachings, But those that deny the bible as the word of God are not Christian, does not matter what church they claim to be members of. And Jeffersons views denied Jesus virgin birth, which even Muslims accept and is not only in Pauls writings but also all thoughout the new testement.

Dark_crow

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.


Many proclaimed Christians say that Churches that deny the trinity are not Christian either, but cult churches.

Jefferson believed in the institution of the church and contributed to the building of Episcopal, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches; he also believed that the church could err in its teachings …To say that he was not a Christian is quite a “Judgment”.

Galveston1

See "Death on the cross a must" post 19. Relates to Paul and his gospel.

s_cianci

THis is very true. I am a Christian and yet I can readily acknowledge that many churches' teachings are partially or totally erroneous.

Fr_Chuck

As a political person he did many things for his benifit but things such as the virgin birth which he was suppose to talk against is one of the major issues that define a persons faith, since it is not part of pauls teachings but part of the four main gospels.

There were cult groups even during the first several centuries after Christ that did follow a line that Jesus was not God and did not die on the Cross, from those teachings ,we see included into the Quran.

But there is a easy to define a Christian, those that believe and follow the teachings of Christ, those that do not and will not follow his teachings are not. They may do alot of good, they may help alot of groups, but they are known by thier beleifs.