Brief Introduction: Break out the champagne, or beer if you prefer, because I am about to make my very first blog, and for the special occasion I have lined up a live interview with Thomas Jefferson. I know, I know, you have no idea who I am or what I am about. Don't sweat it. I am one tiny voice in world littered with voices like garbage on the side of the interstate. When you read my blog, simply imagine you are one of those groups of people picking up trash on the side of the road to do the community a favor (never mind the fact that we typically call them inmates). And besides that, I am sure you know who Thomas Jefferson is. Don't concern yourself with fact that he is dead, I, TinySaint, assure you this interview is legit, and Saints don't lie. Wait a minute! Here he is now, right on time. So without further ado, let's begin. Tiny: Mr. Thomas Jefferson, how are you today? Jefferson: A bit stiff, but otherwise fine. Tiny: I have brought you here today to discuss the religious founding of America. However, I would like to start off more in the general sense by asking you about belief. How would you describe the value our great and powerful God places in faith? Jefferson: Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. Tiny: A god that approves of reason? Mr. Jefferson, if I didn't respect you as I do, I might accuse you of blasphemy. People tell me America was founded on Christianity. How can you support such an idea yet advocate that we question the existence of god? Jefferson: The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding... Tiny: Hold on just a minute there sir. I am starting to feel insulted, after all I am part of this great Christian land. Certainly you cannot mean any of what you are saying and call yourself a true American. Take the common law for example, wasn't that based, at least in part, on Christianity? Jefferson: Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law. History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes. Tiny: Fine, there have been a few priest who have misused scripture, but what about those who stay true to the purity of the entire bible and the word of Jesus? Jefferson: Among the sayings and discourses imputed to Jesus by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being. In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own. Tiny: But America must surely be unique. We, by the overwhelming majority, are Christians, and through freedom have established much of what is good in our religion. Jefferson: But every state, says an inquisitor, has established some religion. No two, say I, have established the same. Is this a proof of the infallibility of establishments? Tiny: Mr. Jefferson, I am going to have to stop this interview. Your anti-Americanism is starting to bother me. If the founding fathers could hear what you are saying about Christianity, I am sure they would be rolling over in their graves. Jefferson: It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing, than to believe what is wrong... Tiny: Excuse me, who are you to think you should get the last word? This is my interview and I get the last words. And with that, I bid you good day. Folks, I am sorry, but that did not go as I had anticipated. I would have interviewed a true American such as Pat Robertson, but I could not afford his fee. Perhaps next time I can bring you someone better. | 
