Sworn on the Altar of God: A Religious Biography of Thomas Jefferson

Sworn on the Altar of God is an extremely informative look at Thomas Jefferson's faith. As one of the Founding Fathers, politicians and people of faith have so often tried to understand Jefferson's faith. In truth, he was a deist and a rationalist. Understanding the implications of this faith have great ramifications in our current times, especially in relation to a government which seems so intent on glorifying evangelical fundamentalism at the expense of reason. I feel that Jefferson would have been appalled!

This book is an excellent compliement to Charles Sanford's "The Religious Life of Thomas Jefferson." Whereas Sanford does a scholarly review of the content of Jefferson's religious ideas, Gaustad in this book gives the narrative and context for how Jefferson applied his ideas concerning religion and religious freedom. Most interesting to me in the Gaustad book were the accounts of the political fights Jefferson and Madison waged for religious freedom during the early years of the Republic. Gaustad filled in the historical gaps and gave me context for understanding how momentous the struggle truly was. Also brought to life by Gaustad are the correspondences between the aged ex-presidents Jefferson and Adams about God and religion. I highly recommend this book to those interested in the history of ideas and freedom of thought.

Thomas Jefferson's thinking hovers over many of today's debates regarding separation of church and state, school prayer, the place of public education, and the place of faith in our own lives.This is an excellent exploration of the complexities of Jefferson's beliefs and the even more complex world of how his writings and thoughts continue to impact America today.

Excellent book As a school board member this book is important to show the importance of saving public education to perserve the American EXperiment. Jefferson was always in favor of a public educational system as a means to perserve the wall of separation between church and state. I would recommend this book for anyone who is oppossed to vouchers and charters schools

Recent debate between religious and political groups have constantly referred to the phrase "separation of church and state." This clause deserves special distinction because it is the most famous constitutional language to never appear in the constitution. Jefferson wrote it to a group of Danbury Baptists in the 1790s well after the Constitution was written. In this new book Gaustad clears up this and other misconceptions about Jefferson's religious life and presents him as the greatest fighter for religious liberty the country has ever known. What was the Virginia Statute For Religious Freedom, and how did it set the mode for Western Civilization Church and State Relations? What were Jefferson's beliefs on the deity of Jesus Christ? Was Jefferson against Christian expansion? Did Jefferson really rewrite the New Testament in "The Jefferson Bible?" These are questions that every historian, and many non-academic lovers of history have been asking about the third president of the United States. More than any other founding father, Jefferson is noted for his role in the relationship between religion and government. Gaustad chronicles Jefferson's religious life from age 14 to his death in a language that will satisfy scholars and non scholars alike. A must read for all those interested in Thomas Jefferson.