I'm sorry

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Daseal

The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.

Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.

You say you are a Calvinist. I am not. I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know.

Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him [Jesus] by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being.

All quotes from Jefferson.
http://www.nobeliefs.com/jefferson.htm
While he says he isn't an atheist, he also seems not to be your stereotypical Christian.

"In a mans mind is where he must build his own temple, and that is the true meaning of monumental."
-The Last Emperor

And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.

Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18, 1781

But by the grace of GOD is america the greatest country the world has ever seen, our moral decline, and our thanklessness, for the GOD who has raised us up, will eventually be our downfall, the liberal is a modern day bolshevik.

[JWsleep]

I'm sorry if my post on the original thread was off kilter. I certainly didn't mean it to contribute to that negative vibe!

All I intended is what Daseal said here (in clearer terms than mine):

"One thing I am, is proud to be an American, I only criticize because I try to improve and not let the country degrade. I'm proud of my country, and I feel we all should be. Especially on it's birthday."