Jefferson: godless heathen

I love quotes by the Framers which affirm their unobtrusive atheism. Here's Thomas Jefferson, writing to his nephew Peter Carr in 1787:

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear...Those facts in the Bible which contradict the laws of nature, must be examined with more care, and under a variety of faces. Here you must recur to the pretensions of the writer to inspiration from God. Examine upon what evidence his pretensions are founded, and whether that evidence is so strong as that its falsehood would be more improbable than a change of the laws of nature in the case he relates. For example in the book of Joshua we are told the sun stood still several hours. Were we to read that fact in Livy or Tacitus we should class it with their showers of blood, speaking of statues, beasts, etc, but it said that the writer of that book was inspired. Examine therefore candidly what evidence there is of his having been inspired....Do not be frigthened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences. If it ends in a belief that there is no god, you will find incitements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise, and the love of others which it will procure you....Your own reason is the only oracle given you by heaven, and you are answerable not for the rightness but uprightness of the decision.

Take that, James Dobson!

Responding to accusations that he was an unbeliever, Jefferson loudly proclaimed that he'd always been a Christian -- neglecting to inform his critics that he'd edited the Gospels so that only Jesus Christ's actual words were all that remained, unencumbered by those pesky evangelists.