Calvin

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, April 11, 1823

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

Thomas Jefferson April 11, 1823 Jefferson attacks Calvin, predestination, the immaculate conception and other facets of Christianity. DEAR SIR, — The wishes expressed, in your last favor, that I may continue in life and health until I become a Calvinist, at least in his exclamation of `mon Dieu! jusque à quand’! would make me immortal. I can never join Calvin in addressing his god. He was indeed an Atheist, which I can never be; or rather his religion was Daemonism….

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Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Thomas Cooper, November 2, 1822

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

Thomas Jefferson November 2, 1822 Jefferson believed Unitarianism would become the dominant religion. He also explains why he has no professor of divinity at the University of Virginia. DEAR SIR, Your favor of October the 18th came to hand yesterday. The atmosphere of our country is unquestionably charged with a threatening cloud of fanaticism, lighter in some parts, denser in others, but too heavy in all. I had no idea, however, that in Pennsylvania, the cradle of toleration and freedom…

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Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, June 26, 1822

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

Thomas Jefferson June 26, 1822 Jefferson believed that Christianity no longer reflected the true teachings of Jesus. DEAR SIR, — I have received and read with thankfulness and pleasure your denunciation of the abuses of tobacco and wine. Yet, however sound in its principles, I expect it will be but a sermon to the wind. You will find it as difficult to inculcate these sanative precepts on the sensualities of the present day, as to convince an Athanasian that there…

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Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, September 14, 1818

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams September 14, 1818 Adams bristles as the Calvinist notion that a man’s fate is determined by the grace of God instead of good works. He rejects the idea that non-Christians who lead good lives will go to Hell, and poses an alternative definition of being a good Christian. owe you a thousand thanks for your favor of August 22d, and its inclosures, and for Doctor Priestley’s ” Doctrines of Heathen Philosophy compared with those of Revelation.” Your letter…

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Letter from John Adams to Samuel Miller, July 8, 1820

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

John Adams July 8, 1820 Toward the end of his life he recounts his religious explorations and concludes, “I believe with Justin Martyr, that all good men are Christians.” You know not the gratification you have given me by your kind, frank, and candid letter. I must be a very unnatural son to entertain any prejudices against the Calvinists, or Calvinism, according to your confession of faith; for my father and mother, my uncles and aunts, and all my predecessors,…

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