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Rating: 
Summary: A Little Thought in the Midst of the Passion
Review: ...Jefferson's Bible is an important work both for what it shows of a pivotal Founding Father and lynch-pin president, and what it doesn't show. Jefferson was neither the passionate Christian that some try to paint him as, nor was he the foaming at the mouth Deist that others attempt to paint his as, either. Jefferson was earlier in his life leaning more toward Deism and toward the end of his life best described as a Unitarian in the sense that the word was used in that day. In an effort to paint their positions, camps from both sides fail to account for the fact that Jefferson was human and his journey through life developed his thinking in these areas and he showed progression and modification of his positions as learning and experience tempered them. Jefferson clearly rejected Trinitarian theology and believed the gospel narratives to be [tarnished] with later redaction by the early Church. His Bible as such was an attempt to cull out those redactions and isolate those words and teachings of Christ that reflect the moral code of Jesus Christ that Jefferson held to be the highest such teaching known to man. He was in effect trying to identify that theoretical "Q document" that Biblical Scholars from Jefferson's day until now believe existed which had only the words of Christ as he spoke them recorded. Jefferson's Bible demonstrates both Jefferson's judgement as to what true Christianity (by his definition) entailed, and also what was baggage and needed to be removed. Jefferson revered Christ's moral code and teachings, even as he rejected his deity. This is eminently clear in Jefferson's writings, especially in his lengthy, latter year correspondence with John Adams. Those who try and demonstrate Jefferson as to one side or the other demonstrate their own bias and need for Jefferson to be cast into their own camp. Don't make the same mistake. Read the text at face value and determine what it says to you about Jefferson. Then, if you want, wade into the swamp of what others want to tell you it says about Jefferson and his view of our nation. You'll be equipped to reject either extreme and let Jefferson speak for himself.
Rating:
Summary: A Little Thought in the Midst of the Passion
Review: ... Jefferson's Bible is an important work both for what it shows of a pivotal Founding Father and lynch-pin president, and what it doesn't show. Jefferson was neither the passionate Christian that some try to paint him as, nor was he the foaming at the mouth Deist that others attempt to paint his as, either. Jefferson was earlier in his life leaning more toward Deism and toward the end of his life best described as a Unitarian in the sense that the word was used in that day. In an effort to paint their positions, camps from both sides fail to account for the fact that Jefferson was human and his journey through life developed his thinking in these areas and he showed progression and modification of his positions as learning and experience tempered them. Jefferson clearly rejected Trinitarian theology and believed the gospel narratives to be [tarnished] with later redaction by the early Church. His Bible as such was an attempt to cull out those redactions and isolate those words and teachings of Christ that reflect the moral code of Jesus Christ that Jefferson held to be the highest such teaching known to man. He was in effect trying to identify that theoretical "Q document" that Biblical Scholars from Jefferson's day until now believe existed which had only the words of Christ as he spoke them recorded. Jefferson's Bible demonstrates both Jefferson's judgement as to what true Christianity (by his definition) entailed, and also what was baggage and needed to be removed. Jefferson revered Christ's moral code and teachings, even as he rejected his deity. This is eminently clear in Jefferson's writings, especially in his lengthy, latter year correspondence with John Adams. Those who try and demonstrate Jefferson as to one side or the other demonstrate their own bias and need for Jefferson to be cast into their own camp. Don't make the same mistake. Read the text at face value and determine what it says to you about Jefferson. Then, if you want, wade into the swamp of what others want to tell you it says about Jefferson and his view of our nation. You'll be equipped to reject either extreme and let Jefferson speak for himself.
Rating:
Summary: One of the few books worthy of represnting Christianity.
Review: Don't allow the endorsements of conservatives like Ralph Reed discourage the compassionate, liberal Christian from reading this brilliant work. Jefferon's love for the teachings of Jesus resulted in this creative example of how inspirational the "word of God" is and how it may serve as a guide to life.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank you for the warning
Review: I wish to thank the reader who gave warning about William Murchison's essay being attached to this volume, as well as the warning about the endorsement by the Christian Coalition.
I have already read "The Jefferson Bible" itself from another source and found Jefferson's work of carefully choosing bible passages and collecting them into a single common sense gospel narrative a brilliant and enlightening take on the essential heart of the teachings of Jesus. Mr. Jefferson eliminated the virgin birth, the miraculous healings, and the resurrection, leaving only the essential teachings and a very human biography of Jesus.
But, attaching Williams Murchison's essay to "The Jefferson Bible" does not seem to be an accurate reflection of Thomas Jefferson's work.
So, I have purchased the other copy of the "The Jefferson Bible", the one with the essay by Forrester Church.
Rating:
Summary: Buy the Jefferson's Bible with F. Church!!! Not this one!
Review: This book has a foreword by a William Murchison that refutes almost 100% of the message of the book. He claims this book is a support for a return to religious values (his) and it even has an endorsement by Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition. What hypocrisy. Buried deep in the book you will read that Jefferson did not believe in the superstitions of the bible and he did not believe Jesus was divine. He rather felt that this was made up by the Christian Heirarchy principally at Nicea. The writer of the foreword ignores everything that Thomas Jefferson has written and says that Jefferson never meant for there to be seperation of church and state in the literal sense. He writes that some religious beliefs are more valid than others and sarcastically comments (a quote!) "No responsible democratic government could give preference to one opinion over another could it?" He then attacks the educational system saying that the religous material he approves of should be taught in schools. I am INCREDULOUS! An endorsement by the Christian Coalition only says that no only are these people intolerant, THey JUST WILL NOT LOOK AT FACTS. Reason, Common Sense. A wonderful book the parts by Jefferson, but again SKIP this irritating addition and buy the one by Forrest Church. I just returned this edition and am having them send the HISTORICALLY CORRECT one. I guess the Christian Coalition will try to create "support" when they can't earn it. What's next? will the Christian Coalition (in reality a corporate funded fascist front) endorse Darwin's "Origin of Species" and claim that Darwin agreed with them about the biblical talking snake theory and that this is what should be in schools? Go figure.
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