Andrew Tribble
The story that an encounter with Andrew Tribble about Baptist theology influencing Jefferson's views on democracy has persisted since Jefferson's death in 1826.
Religion
Articles on Jefferson's views on religion and religious freedom written by Monticello researchers and scholars.
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![A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, printed for the Consideration of the People, 1779. Reproduction of broadside. Courtesy of the trustees of the Boston Public Library]()
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![Title page of the 1769 copy of the Holy Bible. Handwritten across the top is “James S Maury. The Gift of His Father 1828”]()
EncyclopediaBible Society of Virginia
In 1814, Jefferson privately contributed $50 to the Bible Society of Virginia in support of the distribution of Holy Bibles to households that could not afford one.
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![Title page of the 1769 copy of the Holy Bible. Handwritten across the top is “James S Maury. The Gift of His Father 1828”]()
EncyclopediaDay of Thanksgiving and Prayer
A look at Thomas Jefferson's views on establishing a national day of thanksgiving and prayer in relation to his belief in religious freedom.
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![Thomas Jefferson, "An Act for Establishing Religious Freedom," January 16, 1786, Manuscript, Records of the General Assembly, Enrolled Bills, Record Group 78, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.]()
StoryDivided We Stand, United We Fall
Why the Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom is the key to political freedom and free thought.
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EncyclopediaElementary School Act
The Elementary School Act, Thomas Jefferson's "Bill for Establishing Elementary Schools," was proposed legislation that was never officially adopted.
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![One of the Bibles Thomas Jefferson cut from to create his own version of the Gospels turned to a page with four sections missing.]()
Elihu Palmer
Elihu Palmer (1764-1806) was an American deist philosopher who rejected orthodox Christianity and formed the deistical New York Theistical Society.
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![Title page of the 1769 copy of the Holy Bible. Handwritten across the top is “James S Maury. The Gift of His Father 1828”]()
Frederick Hatch
Frederick Hatch was an Episcopal minister in Charlottesville, Virginia who ran a school that some of Thomas Jefferson's grandsons attended.
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![An engraving of Natural Bridge by J.C. Stadler after William Roberts showing the tall natural arch and two couples standing along the river below it.]()
EncyclopediaGeology
A look at Thomas Jefferson's lifelong interest in the science of geology.
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![A painting depicting a scene of Jesus's lifeless body after crucifixion draped in white and supported by the Virgin Mary in a white veil surrounded by four other women.]()
EncyclopediaJefferson's Religious Beliefs
A Christian, a deist, or an atheist? Thomas Jefferson’s religious beliefs have long been a subject of public discussion and controversy,
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![Aleppo Codex/PD]()
EncyclopediaJews and Judaism
Explore this list of references Monticello researchers compiled about Thomas Jefferson's writings on Jews and Judaism.
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![Painting of white man with dark eyes, balding at the front with thick brown sideburns in a dark, high-collared coat with a white neckerchief and a small red ribbon on its lapel]()
José Correia da Serra
Abbé José Correia da Serra of Portugal was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson and frequent visitor to Monticello, where the two shared wide-ranging interests in science, nature, and learning.
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![Spine of Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia; 1787 Stockdale Edition with a modern binding; image courtesy Special Collections, University of Virginia,]()
EncyclopediaNotes on the State of Virginia
“Notes on the State of Virginia,” the only book Jefferson wrote, was both well-regarded and controversial. Frequently reprinted in his lifetime, “Notes” is a tour d'horizon of Jefferson's interests and ideas on a wide range of subjects.
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![Title pages of a copy of the Koran owned by Thomas Jefferson.]()
EncyclopediaQur'an owned by Thomas Jefferson
Find out why Jefferson owned a copy of the Koran in his library at Monticello.
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![A modern-day portrait of Thomas Jefferson in early 19-century attire with a speech bubble next to his head that says, "I said what?!"]()
EncyclopediaThe Bible is the source of liberty (Spurious Quotation)
Find out why researchers think Jefferson never wrote or said "The Bible is the source of liberty."
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![Cover of modern-day printing of The Jefferson Bible.]()
ShopThe Jefferson Bible
A reprint with facsimile pages from Jefferson's 1819 original book.
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![The Jefferson Bible opened to the page with its full title written in Jefferson's hand.]()
EncyclopediaThe Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
A look at why Jefferson cut apart a bible to create his own bound version of the Gospels, now often referred to as The Jefferson Bible.
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![One of the Bibles Thomas Jefferson cut from to create his own version of the Gospels turned to a page with four sections missing.]()
EncyclopediaThe Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth
Jefferson's 1st attempt to distill the original tenets of Christianity, "The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth," became part of what is now called The Jefferson Bible.
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![One of the Bibles Thomas Jefferson cut from to create his own version of the Gospels turned to a page with four sections missing.]()
EncyclopediaThomas Jefferson and Religious Freedom
Jefferson championed religious freedom, wrote Virginia's Statute for Religious Freedom, and described the "wall of separation" between Church and State.
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![Full-length painting of Commodore Uriah P. Levy]()
Uriah Phillips Levy
A U.S. Navy officer and significant character in Jewish-American history who purchased Monticello to preserve it in Jefferson's memory
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![Printed version of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom]()
EncyclopediaVirginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Statue of Virginia for Religious Freedom and considered it one of his three greatest achievements.
