I said previously that TJ's philosophy, both personal and political, began with his view of the Creator, Nature's God. His basic optimism derived from his trust in a Benevolent God who he believed looked after us here and hereafter, and wanted what was best for us. Unlike in the deist philosophy, TJ's God was an active presence in the world and in all forms of life. In one of his most spiritual writings he describes how the head can see the presence of God in the incredible workings of nature from the smallest particles underfoot to the movement of the stars above, and in another writing he refers to how the heart feels the internal guidance from the Divine. In all this he saw a perfect design and order. For TJ both science and human observation could reveal something of the magnificence of the Creator's works and of the mind of God. He told his nephew that there was nothing in this life we could study that was more important than our relationship to God, and how that relationship should govern all our actions and relationships.
TJ studied various religious and philosophical texts, edited his own version of the New Testament (now called The Jefferson Bible), attended a variety of church services, and visited Freemason lodges, in order to formulate and practice his religious beliefs. The result was that he viewed himself to be a sect to himself, having created a unique, eclectic brand of spirituality. Like myself and many others who came of age in the 1960s, he was not willing to accept anything because some authority, religious or political, asserted it was true. Its not that he rejected the wisdom of the authorities, rather that he questioned it. And when TJ questioned something he did so with intensity, passion, and a razor-sharp intellect. He arrived at his trust in God despite his personal and intellectual knowledge of the harshness and cruelty of much of human nature. He trusted that God had a purpose and reason for creating a world full of pain and hardship. For one, it gave humankind an opportunity to exercise kindness and compassion towards those in need. I will say more about this in the next post, but for now it's important to recognize that TJ was not some naive idealist. He was a man of the world who had suffered innumerable losses, who questioned and challenged the given wisdom, and had arrived at- faith! Faith in nature, human nature, and Nature's God.
As a college student at William and Mary, TJ was infatuated with a young woman he called Belinda. When he wrote to his young friend John Page about how he would approach her, he revealed a personal philosophy that would serve him well throughout his life. He said that if she said yes to his proposal (which wasn't exactly one of marriage, but more a proposal to someday propose), he would be enormously happy. But, if she should say no (which she did), he must be willing to accept it as an expression of God's will and be prepared to accept the consequences.
In short, his attitude was to do his best (which in this case was very awkward), to do what he felt he needed to do (in this case after much internal debate), and then ultimately-surrender-to whatever must be. And how would he know what must be, by observing what actually occurs. To make the point even shorter--Trust God!
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Do you trust God? If so, how much and how often? Does your faith, or lack thereof, influence your political views and your relations with others? If so, in what ways?
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We are not in a world ungoverned by the laws and the power of a superior agent. Our efforts are in his hands, and directed by it; and he will give them their effect in his own time. 1815
