yes, but that doesn't answer

Posted on: March 13, 2017 at 13:24:47 CT

the point that is being made in today's politics or what was actually at issue then.

So, with regard to today's debate, the description saying "drew upon Enlightenment ideas about the toleration of Muslims (then deemed the ultimate outsiders in Western society) to fashion out of what had been a purely speculative debate a practical foundation for governance in America" is actually likely false - calling it revisionism is being kind. In no way does the system of laws laid out in the Constitution and English Common Law (whose bases were enumerated in no small part in the Declaration of Independence authored by Jefferson) permit the 'operationalization' of the tenets of Islam Jefferson is saying to others he observed.

So, while he read it, and he expected (as others did) tolerance for peaceful observance of the religion, that is absolutely not what's at issue in today's debate about Islam nor was it in Jefferson's time, as evinced by his quotes and actions shared above in this thread.