‘CHRISTIAN NATION’: Jefferson misquoted

Recently the Press published a letter to the editor, claiming that the USA was a “Christian nation” and featuring a lengthy quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson. That quote was false, Jefferson never said those words. In fact, it was a claim written by Rev. Ethan Allen, who said he was told by a Mr. Ingle, decades after Jefferson’s death. In fact, it is well known that Jefferson was a strong proponent of separation of church and state, as set forth in the First Amendment, which states that “Government shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion,” and protects people of all faiths. 

I figure faith is like sandwiches, and we each have our favorite. Some like tuna salad, some like peanut butter, and we have no obligation to be forced by our government to consume bologna.

ALYSSA C. SWARTZ

Coeur d’Alene