It has been said by some secularists and separationists that the theistic phrases in the Declaration of Independence, such as "the Supreme Judge of the world" and "divine Providence" are not references to Christianity or Jesus because the writer of those words is a confirmed deist.
Let us grant (contrary to fact) that Jefferson was a deist.
The writer of those words in the Declaration of Independence was not Jefferson. If you look in TJ's writings, vol 1, p. 38 you will find (in his autobiography) that his original draft did not contain those words, but were added by the Congress. Numerous other changes were also made by the revising committee which included men like John Adams.
| Jefferson's Original | Final Wording |
| We therefore the representatives of the
United States of America in General Congress assembled, do in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these [states reject and renounce all allegiance and subjection to the kings of Great Britain and all others who may hereafter claim by, through or under them; we utterly dissolve all political connection which may heretofore have subsisted between us and the people or parliament of Great Britain and finally we do assert and declare these colonies to be free and independent states,] and that as free and independent states, |
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled, appealing to the supreme judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, |
etc.
In his original draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson had written:
And for the support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.But Congress amended it to read:
And for the support of this declaration, [with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,] we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
The Declaration of Independence reflects the thinking of a nation which barred atheists from public office and which the US Supreme Court on several occasions described as a "Christian nation."
Civil Rights And The Sacred Truth -- Civil Rights Journal
How "sacred and undeniable" became "self-evident"
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