Thomas Jeffersons Letter To Reverend Stoughton
Jefferson’s Reply to Rev. Jonah Stoughton
Monticello
July 1, 1826
Sir, I have before me your letter of
the second of June, and I thank you warmly
for having taken the time to write me.
I have read it carefully and given it
much thought, as much as my eighty-three years
and present bodily disorders will permit –
a re-ascerbation of some months ago
that prevents me from making sufficient
“water” and confines me to my walls,
indeed, my divan, so that I must remain
thereon if only to avoid my physician’s
wrath, and why I was prevented from
giving my attention to your letter and
inquiries sooner; but now I am
comfortably prepared.
As to my religious beliefs – Christian,
Deist, or Humanist – your enquiry
comes as a belated surprise, for I
have given repeated answers to such
questions over the course of my now long
life, public and private. That you, sir, I
must therefor presume, are not aware
of them at this late date in my life, I must
wonder at.
To your question, then, I answer with
as much certitude as any thinking man
of my many years is capable – to wit,
I am, in fact, all three, much to the laughter
if not scorn and ridicule of our pseudo-
Christians who publicly deny me the right
to call myself a believer but rather a
godless Humanist, and never tire of
labelling me a heathen or godless creature.
And so they may. And what of it, I say?
Let a man know himself first; what others
may think or say is of little or no
consequence. A man’s conscience is not
for everyone’s ears but his Creator’s.
For I expect soon to be leaving this
earthly abode, meaning my mansion
as yet unfinished, my gardens, and my
many indentured servants all of which
I have treated humanely as children
of the same and one Creator of us all,
for that other abode I expect to
occupy eternally – my enemies
notwithstanding. Indeed, I now see more
clearly the door that must soon open
to me and through which we all must pass.
And, I tell you with conviction, it is
not a door that conceals a world of
contrived terrors and pains religionists
have so tediously preached. Not at all.
Rather it is a door as familiar to me
and as welcoming as any that opens
to my several gardens; so that I know
what lies behind each one even before
I put my hand to their latches. Indeed,
I enter therein with not the least fear
or doubt or trembling, rather with reason
and assurance, as well as certainty,
that what I shall find there shall be to my
expectations and liking. That, Sir, has
always been, and will always be, my belief.
And so I leave this world, be it today,
tomorrow, or whenever He, our wise
and just Maker, sees fit to call, assured
of a better world, whatever its nature
certain as I am that it will be without
any trace or odor of this one.
I am thus persuaded by my God-
given reason and unfettered by doubts
that rattle the consciences and ignorance
of so many who, either by willing
failure or purposeful negligence
or some other weak excuse refuse to
ascertain the truth or falsehood of hardened
cherished beliefs, or by indolence
or fear, have not labored to separate
the chaff from the wheat.
In a few days the citizens of these
united States, after a half century of
experience and prosperity, will
rightly celebrate the momentous choice
they have made. May it be to the world
(and I believe it will in due time) a loud
and fervent call to all men everywhere
to break free from all forms of monkish
tyranny and domination, and chose
the blessings of Him who created us
as His children and in His image.
I say here and now, all eyes are open,
or opening, to “les droits de l’homme.”*
The light of science is revealing fresh,
new, and useful truths for the benefit
of all. The masses must at the least be
told they were born to be free and not
with saddles strapped to their backs, neither
to be ridden by others as they see fit,
either for harsh drudgery or cheap pleasures
for others benefit.
Let a man worship as his knowledge
(or lack of it) dictates and conscience sees fit,
but let him not insist, either by force,
threat, or coercion, that others abide
by his. For what profit is there in a false
belief before Him who will judge every
secret of the heart?
Sir, it is my fervent hope that your
persuasion, regardless of its trappings,
its centuries of oppression, strife, wars
will, given sufficient time, be but a puff
of smoke, much as the religions and cults
of antiquity now are. Or, if you prefer,
mere footnoes on the pages of history.
Sir, you ask for a reply to your
questions, and so I have. I do not
expect you will approve or respect any.
But as one man to another, I would
rather, in the spirit of our newly
gained independence, you will at the least
tolerate mine and another’s beliefs
as I do yours and many others,
assigning final judgement to Him alone,
whose children, if I am not mistaken,
we all are. For what has every form of
bigotry and intolerance accomplished
other than devastated the good that
cries out for expression in all men?
Sir, the dinner hour strikes, and my
appetite, denied its fill these past few days
begs for some small portion of nourishment;
for as I glance outside my window, the day
races to its stable, and my hand tires,
as reflected in my less than stable script,
like a war-worn soldier calling for rest.
Ever in your service,
Thomas Jefferson
Copyright ©
Maurice Rigoler
|