Whoops! OC Atheists' Anti-Christian Billboard Misquotes Jefferson

Photo by Georgios Kollidas via Shutterstock

Atheists in Orange County who have been on a billboard crusade to spread their message forgot to do some research before they unveiled their latest sign.

The latest billboard features Thomas Jefferson's mug and the quote "I do not find in Christianity one redeeming feature. It is founded on fables and mythology."

It turns out the quote itself isn't based on a whole lot more than fables and mythology, according to the Jefferson experts at Monticello who the Orange County Register interview. The quote shows up all over the internet in different incarnations, but there isn't any evidence Jefferson said it. It doesn't even really sound like something he would say, according to the Jefferson Library:

We are asked about this one on a fairly regular basis. As with many spurious Jefferson quotes, it is frequently seen on various Internet sites. Many sites do not cite a source, but a good number of those that do attribute this quote to a letter from TJ to a "Dr. Wood." As far as we know, TJ never wrote to an individual calling him/herself Dr. Wood. Another suspicious element is the statement that he does not find in Christianity "one redeeming feature." One presumes that Jefferson did, in fact, find some redeeming features in Christianity, otherwise he would not have taken the time to paste together his own versions of the Bible.

Jefferson wasn't an atheist, but a deist who believed in a hands-off creator and respected Jesus as a humanistic leader. The outspoken atheist group Backyard Skeptics wanted to use the billboard to poke holes in the idea that all of the founding fathers were Christians, and also promote atheism.

The OC Register called up Bruce Gleason, the leader of the group that put the sign up, and called him out. Gleason admitted he should have done his homework: "You're absolutely right," he said. "I should have done the research before I put my billboard up."

To be fair, we're sure it's not the first billboard that uses poorly-researched claims to promote a cause. If you want to see the billboard, it was unveiled at 4 p.m. today along a Newport Boulevard frontage road between Commercial Way and Industrial Way.

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By Emma G. Gallegos in News on October 26, 2011 5:20 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

mike icyrebel

wow, an atheist who doesnt do much background check, who would have believed..

septimar

If Christians did more background checks, they became Atheists.

Lachlan Wilson

I don't like rice. Can a billion Chinese be wrong? Yes they can. 80% of Americans believe a load of sh*t dreamed up 2000 years ago passed down from generation to generation. Thats all it is...........A Huge Giant LOAD.

rb3868

first, on Jefferson, from volume 2 of The Works of Thomas Jefferson in 12 Volumes:
" I may grow rich by art I am compelled to follow, I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment, but I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve & abhor. "

he never said those words on the billboard, but that comes close.

Second - the Treaty of Tripoli was conceived by Washington and signed by Adams. That it contains those words speaks volumes. That it was ratified speaks even more to the feelings of the Founding Fathers.

Ron Hart

"It is important to remember at all times, that you cannot believe half the shit on the internet." - Albert Einstein

Frank TheTank

"Don't believe anything you read, and only half of what you see."
- Jesus H. Christ.

Doran

Similarly, George Washington is often quoted as saying “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,” when that language actually comes from the Treaty of Tripoli.

Tammy Schwartz

I'm guessing that he likely doesn't really care that the billboard is inaccurate. It makes his point, and most people will believe that it is true simply because they read it on a billboard.

Chris Hollier

"I'm guessing that he likely doesn't really care that the billboard is inaccurate."

From the article:

"Gleason admitted he should have done his homework: "You're absolutely right," he said. "I should have done the research before I put my billboard up."

At least he was upfront and honest about his mistake.