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>Eyler, Thank so much for quick response. I'm working on a section of the >book that deals with this very subject. With regards to Jefferson's >opinion of Revelations, I know what he means having read it myself. How >do you think Jefferson would feel about the republication and promotion >of his Jefferson Bible? I really think he would give his wholehearted approval -- TODAY. He was, as you probably know, a *very* private man. I'm quite sure I read somewhere that some of his family members did not know of the existence of the JB. But, of course, he wrote about it to several of his closest friends, so that story may be not totally reliable. But, of course, *during his lifetime* he would never of heard of the JB being published and promoted with him as compiler. He was equally as secretive about all his views, and was appalled when someone would leak one of his letters to the press. There is an interesting passage in one of Jefferson's letters to John Adams that I love, in which Jefferson tells of a printer who asked for permission to *publish* their correspondence! Yowl! "I presume that our correspondence has been observed at the post offices, and thus has attracted notice. Would you believe, that a printer has had the effrontery to propose to me the letting him publish it? These people think they have a right to everything, however secret or sacred." - -Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, Aug. 10, 1815. ME 14:344 "The EFFRONTERY!" ;-) But, of course, the Adams-Jefferson correspondence has since been published, and is one of the most popular collections of Jefferson's writings. The difference is, the correspondents are no longer living. Jefferson carefully saved all his correspondence for posterity, and I'm sure his attitude was, and would be, different regarding publication of such personal things AFTER his death than before. >I know he did intend it for personal use rather >than public reading. How do you find the response to the TJB from the >other Christians you meet? Most intelligent, non-fundamentalist visitors to the site love it. The fundamentalists, of course, hate it. I have gotten one or two pieces of hate mail telling me what I was doing was evil and warning me of what is going to happen to me come Judgment Day. ;-) The fundamentalists are up in arms about Jefferson leaving out the resurrection. I try to mollify them by telling them that TJ was essentially interested in the ethical and moral teachings, and deliberately left out the supernatural aspects. They are sometimes quieted, but not happy. >Thanks again Eyler. You really have been a >blessing for the book and my own thinking through of things. Glad to help. I guess my "librarian mentality" has completely penetrated to my inner self, because I really enjoy answering questions for people and helping them locate quotes, information, etc. It becomes a respite from some of the more tedious tasks I have to perform.