By Zia H Shah MD
Source / Courtesy: Review of Religions and Alislam.org. First published in 2007.
A compelling argument that Thomas Jefferson negated belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ and affirmed the unity of God. Was he influenced by the Holy Qur’an?
Jefferson’s copy of the Koran
The adulterated accounts of the Bible did not satisfy Jefferson. After extensive studies of different books, Jefferson concluded:
Christianity had traditionally rested not upon reason or experience but upon mystery and miracle. The Bible, moreover, portrayed a deity quite different from that revealed in nature, a deity that reason could neither explain nor defend. How rational could it possibly be for the God of the whole universe to reveal himself solely to one small nation in the eastern Mediterranean and to leave the rest of the world in utter ignorance of his existence? It seemed even more irrational to believe that the Supreme Being of the cosmos had ‘sent his only begotten son,’ who had not offended him, to be sacrificed by men, who had offended him that he might expiate their sins, and satisfy his own anger.
To read the article in April 2007 volume of Review of Religions, click here.
To read a version with several pictures in Alislam.org, click here.
Categories: Americas, CHRISTIANITY, Islam, Religion
Dr. Sahib, Jazakallah for the article and posting the picture of the copies of the Holy Quran that President Thomas Jefferson kept and read.
One key point in the article is in the Biblical teaching God is mystery and miracles void of the nature.
I new reader of the Holy Quran will be immediately struck by the fact Allah calls the universe He created as testimonial. There is evidence of the Big Bang theory, often reminder of actual realities and the needs in the creation of heaven and earth, the skies without the pillars, the mountains, the , the water, air, the seas, the sun and the moon that mind often marvels and how the trees that wring in the wind pay tribute to Allah.
All these references calling men to reflect and come to grips with the fact they have been created and God is the wonderful creator. Possessed with that realization all thinking and reflecting men would pay tribute to Allah.
In short, Allah presents Himself with and in the nature is very compelling.