"Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites."
- Thomas Jefferson, 1781

A lot of people criticize my using that quote. Please understand I do not mean to use it as others would as an attack against Christianity. I love to refer to it especially when I hear "how our forefathers made this a Christian nation". To hear Thomas Jefferson, certainly a great patriot and President say this, well, I love to see their faces when I quote it.

But what I've decided to do is post more of the quote, from the original "Notes on the State of Virginia" from which Bartlett's quotes it from. Fair use copyright law says I can provide a larger quote, and other quotes from the text, but I cannot reproduce the entire text of Query 17. So I will link to the American Studies site for the University of Virginia, that does have the entire Notes, and here to just Query 17 for you to read the entire passage.

But here is the condensation, with MANY direct quotes. These Notes were written by Thomas Jefferson in 1781 and are about many features of the state of Virginia, that were "in answer to Queries proposed to [Jefferson], by a Foreigner of Distinction". QUERY XVII regarded the "different religions received into that state".

First, it should be noted that all of the religions represented in Virginia at this time were different sects of Christianity. Protestants, Presbyterians, Quakers, etc. But the points are no less valid if extended to all religions. For, I think you and I can agree, that there is as much tension and disagreement between all of the assembled sects of Christianity that they can each be considered as hopelessly embattled as their opposition to non-Christian religions. So, before you go shaking you finger at me because he only meant Christian sects, not all religions, I'll provide you quotes that he extends the argument for me. I just want you to know, there's no wool here -- yes, there were no Druids in Virginia in 1781. (But that doesn't mean there weren't any witches! ::evil cackle::)

First, he defines the laws regarding the subject of religion: "The present state of our laws on the subject of religion is this. The convention of May 1776, in their declaration of rights, declared it to be a truth, and a natural right, that the exercise of religion should be free".

Americans are free to practice whatever religion we choose. This is in fact the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This right is SO important, they address it first. He does continue to say, however, that "instead of taking up every principle declared in the bill of rights, and guarding it by legislative sanction, they passed over that which asserted our religious rights, leaving them as they found them." In essence, they didn't see the need to draw up laws protecting this right, because the First Amendment said it clearly enough.

Obviously, we still have arguments about this (otherwise I wouldn't be writing this now), and Jefferson recognized this as well (otherwise this Query would never have been addressed!) However, it needed to be noted that British Parliament had laws regarding religious matters. So he adds that when the very same convention assembled in October 1776, they "repealed all _acts of parliament_ which had rendered criminal the maintaining any opinions in matters of religion, the forbearing to repair to church, and the exercising any mode of worship; and suspended the laws giving salaries to the clergy". This completely set into motion our famous separation of Church and State.

It is crucial to note that this did not yet deal with "heresy". At that point, once those laws above were repealed, this left what was known as the "common law", in which Jefferson stated that heresy was defined as a "capital offence, punishable by burning." However, Jefferson explains that the statute of the 1 El. c. 1. declared that "nothing should be deemed heresy". So now, an American can never be considered a heretic, and can surely not be punished as one.

Can I now continue to address Jefferson's scathing commentary on religion? Do you believe me when I show that even Jefferson proclaimed and defended the First Amendment even within this Note? Thanks. Let's move on.

Where do I start? Well, he states that "it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." That's one of my favorites. Thomas Jefferson, ladies and gentleman, what a radical free-thinker! But seriously, he acknowledges there that not only is it acceptable for your neighbor to not be a member of your religion, but it won't harm you if he proclaims it within your earshot. "We are free to choose one God, no god, or All of the Above." (That's one of mine, I hope I make it into Barrett's someday!)

Another favorite quote of mine involves how idiotic it is for a government to establish laws based on religious beliefs. While he is more tactful than my previous statement, he did let loose his wit: "Galileo was sent to the inquisition for affirming that the earth was a sphere: the government had declared it to be as flat as a trencher, and Galileo was obliged to abjure his error. This error however at length prevailed, the earth became a globe, and Descartes declared it was whirled round its axis by a vortex. The government in which he lived was wise enough to see that this was no question of civil jurisdiction, or we should all have been involved by authority in vortices. In fact, the vortices have been exploded, and the Newtonian principle of gravitation is now more firmly established, on the basis of reason, than it would be were the government to step in, and to make it an article of necessary faith."

One more gem before the one that started this rant. Again, this ain't Shakespeare, so I won't translate: "It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself." This one gets used by both sides of the debate. The Christian fundamentalist will argue that "The Truth", i.e. their religion, needs no defense and that those in Error, i.e. everybody else (the Heretics) need the First Amendment to protect them. I'll let you be The Judge.

Finally, here is the quote in question, expanded to include the best commentary and argument I can imagine for religious tolerance, let alone acceptance and opening one's mind:

"Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor morum over each other. Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth. Let us reflect that it is inhabited by a thousand millions of people. That these profess probably a thousand different systems of religion. That ours is but one of that thousand. That if there be but one right, and ours that one, we should wish to see the 999 wandering sects gathered into the fold of truth. But against such a majority we cannot effect this by force. Reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these, free enquiry must be indulged; and how can we wish others to indulge it while we refuse it ourselves."

Here Jefferson is saying that there are many, he estimates one thousand, other religions practiced around the world. That if his religion is the only correct one, force should not be used as a tool for conversion. "Reason and persuasion" instead should be used, but in order to be reasonable and persuasive, you need to be able to answer the questions others will ask. This requires an open mind to other religions. You can't just say, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so," and honestly expect everyone of those practicing the other 999 religions to say, "but of course, it must be true!"

To all of you who had the patience to read this and find yourself wanting more, read the entire text of Query 17! I promise you will find a fonder appreciation for the wit and wisdom of Thomas Jefferson.