"Doubting Thomas: The Distorted Religious Legacy of Thomas Jefferson"" by Mark Beliles
Channel: Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society
Date: 2016-07-29

Currently, most people regard Jefferson as a Deist or lifelong skeptic who thought religion and government should have nothing to do with each other.  Recent evidence shows that this is not true.  Dr. Mark Beliles has recently put in print over 50 Jefferson letters that have never been previously published, and in this presentation he discusses the setting of the unique religious culture of Central Virginia.  He gives reasons for the modern distorted image of Jefferson’s beliefs, and shows a more accurate religious life of Jefferson and Jefferson’s religious legacy which has blessed America and the world.

Dr. Mark Beliles is the author or co-author of several books including Doubting Thomas?  The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson (2014, Morgan James Publishers) and Selected Religious Letters and Papers of Thomas Jefferson (2013, America Publications).  Residing in Charlottesville, VA, he served a dozen years as the Chairman of the Historic Resources Committee for the city of Charlottesville and as co-chairman of its 250th anniversary held in 2012.  He has also worked for 36 years as a pastor.  He presently serves as president of the Global Transformation Network as a lecturer, writer, and leadership coach.

To view this entire presentation, go to www.tjheritage.org and click on Events and Videos.  Scroll down to the April 11, 2015 Forum presentations, and click on “Doubting Thomas:  The Distorted Religious Legacy of Thomas Jefferson.”