Daily Jefferson

To Dr. Benjamin Rush Washington April 21, 1803

Regarding public proclamations of one's faith & religion:

I am moreover averse to the communication of my religious tenets to the public; because it would contenance the presumption of those who have endeavored to draw them before that tribunal, and to seduce public opinion to errect itself into that inquisition over the rights of conscience, which the laws so justly proscribed. It behoves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others; or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own. It behoves him, too, in his own case, to give no example of concession, betraying the common right of independant opinion, by answering questions of faith, which laws have left between God & himself.

My personal thought is how did this guy ever get elected? Can you imagine Obama or another candidate when asked about his religion by the press to say simply "It's none of your business". Could it be that this country is more religiously radical and thereby requiring more of a religious test for its President than it had 200 years ago.....thanks to the Religious Right driven GOP for our regression!