Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Religions & Spirituality (10 Quotes)

Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor - over each other.

But a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandizing their oppressors in Church and State.

Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of person under the protection of the habeas corpus and trial by juries impartially selected, - these principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

Politics, like religion, hold up torches of martyrdom to the reformers of error

Religions are all alike -- founded on fables and mythologies.

I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.

On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarreling, fighting, burning and torturing one another, for abstractions unintelligible to themselves and to all others, and absolutely beyond the comprehension of the human mind.

If the freedom of religion, guaranteed to us by law in theory, can ever rise in practice under the overbearing inquisition of public opinion, then and only then will truth, prevail over fanaticism

Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none the support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns, and the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies the preservation of the general government in its whole constitutional vigour, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety abroad ... freedom of religion freedom of the press freedom of person under the protection of the habeas corpus and trial by juries impartially selected, these principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us, and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.