What were Thomas Jefferson's beliefs?

Thomas Jefferson's beliefs encompassed a complex relationship with religion, particularly in how it intersected with politics and personal freedoms. He believed in the separation of church and state, feeling that the religious institutions of his time often intertwined negatively with politics, squelching political discourse and potentially causing mischief. Jefferson held that separation was important for political processes, while James Madison saw it as beneficial for religion itself 1.

Jefferson was also a theological skeptic. He pushed back against the orthodoxy of his day, which he viewed as corrupt and overly literal in its interpretation of the Bible. His skepticism extended to the creation of his own version of the Bible, from which he removed all supernatural events, distilling it to what he believed were the true teachings of Jesus. This unique document reflects Jefferson's rational approach to religion and his quest to "rescue" Jesus' teachings from historical distortions 2.

Additionally, Jefferson valued the role of reason in leading to belief in God, aligning with Enlightenment thinkers who used rational arguments as evidence of divine existence. Importantly, while he valued reason highly, he was not promoting atheism but a different, more personal approach to understanding God 1.