Changes

At the [[Constitutional Convention]] less than three years from his death, however, [[Benjamin Franklin]] proposed prayers in a way indicative of his no longer being a deist.

At the [[Constitutional Convention]] less than three years from his death, however, [[Benjamin Franklin]] proposed prayers in a way indicative of his no longer being a deist.

Another [[Founding Father]] described as a deist was [[Thomas Jefferson]] , but he increasingly embraced Christianity as he grew older and was never a deist. Jefferson personally struggled with the divinity of Christ and produced an edited version of the Gospels, later known as the [[Jefferson Bible]], which contained only the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus and omitted third-person accounts of his life, particularly the accounts of the miracles.

Another [[Founding Father]] described as a deist was [[Thomas Jefferson]]; his many criticisms of Christianity and writings indicate that this was so, though he never specifically referred to himself as one. Jefferson personally struggled with the divinity of Christ and produced an edited version of the Gospels, later known as the [[Jefferson Bible]], which contained only the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus and omitted third-person accounts of his life, particularly the accounts of the miracles.

Ten years from his death Jefferson described himself as "a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus, very different from the Platonists, who call me infidel, and themselves Christians and preachers of the gospel, while they draw all their characteristic dogmas from what its Author never said nor saw."<ref>Jefferson, Letter to Charles Thomson, January 9, 1815</ref>

Ten years from his death Jefferson described himself by stating "[The Jefferson Bible] is a document in proof that I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus, very different from the Platonists, who call me infidel, and themselves Christians and preachers of the gospel, while they draw all their characteristic dogmas from what its Author never said nor saw."<ref>Jefferson, Letter to Charles Thomson, January 9, 1815</ref> By this, Jefferson meant that he observed the moral teaching of Jesus Christ, but rejected his divinity.

The closer Jefferson approached his death, the more Christian he appeared. He read the Bible daily as the end grew near.  His grandson described Jefferson as follows:<ref>Thomas Jefferson Randolph, undated letter to biographer Henry S. Randall, reprinted in Masfield et al., ''The Real Thomas Jefferson'', p. 321.</ref>

lThe closer Jefferson approached his death, the less Christian he appeared. His grandson described Jefferson as folows:<ref>Thomas Jefferson Randolph, undated letter to biographer Henry S. Randall, reprinted in Masfield et al., ''The Real Thomas Jefferson'', p. 321.</ref>

:He was regular in his attendance [at] church, taking his prayer book with him.  He drew the plan of the Episcopal church in Charlottesville, was one of the largest contributors to its erection, and contributed regularly to the support of its minister.  I paid, after his death, his subscription of $200 to the erection of the Presbyterian church in the same village.  A gentleman of some distinction calling on him and expressing his disbelief in the truths of the Bible, his reply was, 'Then, sir, you have studied it to little purpose.'"

:He was regular in his attendance [at] church, taking his prayer book with him.  He drew the plan of the Episcopal church in Charlottesville, was one of the largest contributors to its erection, and contributed regularly to the support of its minister.  I paid, after his death, his subscription of $200 to the erection of the Presbyterian church in the same village.  A gentleman of some distinction calling on him and expressing his disbelief in the truths of the Bible, his reply was, 'Then, sir, you have studied it to little purpose.'"

----

----

'''Sources:'''<references/>

'''Sources:'''<references/>