--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Christian religion, when divested of…" description: "\"The Christian religion, when divested of the rags in which they [the clergy] have enveloped it, and brought to the original purity and simplicity of it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/thomas-jefferson-43_benevolent_the-christian-religion-when-divested-of_1371700.jpg" --- # The Christian religion, when divested of the rags in which… ![“The Christian religion, when divested of the rags in which they [the clergy] have enveloped it, and brought to the original purity and simplicity of it's benevolent institutor, is a religion of all others most friendly to liberty, science, and the freest expansion of the human mind.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/thomas-jefferson-43_benevolent_the-christian-religion-when-divested-of_1371700.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/thomas-jefferson-43_benevolent_the-christian-religion-when-divested-of_1371700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/thomas-jefferson-43_benevolent_the-christian-religion-when-divested-of_1371700.jpg) > “The Christian religion, when divested of the rags in which they \[the clergy\] have enveloped it, and brought to the original purity and simplicity of it's benevolent institutor, is a religion of all others most friendly to liberty, science, and the freest expansion of the human mind.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jefferson argues that stripped of its institutional trappings, Christianity promotes liberty, science, and the free expansion of human thought. **In simple terms:** Pure Christianity supports freedom and scientific progress. Key Takeaway Consider the core values behind religious teachings. Themes religion liberty science human mind philosophy Mood contemplative critical optimistic Type philosophical historical theological When to use this quote - education - public policy - interfaith dialogue - philosophical debate Key Concepts theology enlightenment secularism Questions to Reflect On - Can religion truly be separated from its institutions? - How does faith influence scientific inquiry? A Different Perspective The view may idealize Christianity and ignore historical contradictions between religious institutions and scientific advancement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-religion/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Clergy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clergy/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Purity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purity/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) ## Related quotes > [“When the clergy addressed General Washington on his departure from the government, it was observed in their consultation that he had never on any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-clergy-addressed-general-washington-on-his-departure-from/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/purity-and-simplicity-are-the-two-wings-with-which-man-soars-above/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“By two wings is man lifted above earthly things, even by simplicity and purity. Simplicity ought to be in the intention, purity in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/by-two-wings-is-man-lifted-above-earthly-things-even-by-simplicity/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Good design is as little design as possible. Less, but better - because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-rams/good-design-is-as-little-design-as-possible-less-but-better-because/) [Dieter Rams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-rams/) > [Throughout this protracted and disgraceful assault on American womanhood, the clergy baptized each new insult and act of injustice in the name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/throughout-this-protracted-and-disgraceful-assault-on-american/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Sir, no nation has ever yet existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. The Christian religion is the best religion that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/sir-no-nation-has-ever-yet-existed-or-been-governed-without-religion/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state'... is absolutely essential in a free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/erecting-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The clergy believe that any power confided in me will be exerted in opposition to their schemes, and they believe rightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-clergy-believe-that-any-power-confided-in-me-will-be-exerted-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ The advocate of religious freedom is to expect neither peace nor forgiveness from \[the clergy\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-advocate-of-religious-freedom-is-to-expect-neither-peace-nor/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The Christian religion is the best religion that has ever been given to man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-christian-religion-is-the-best-religion-that-has-ever-been-given/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/religious-institutions-that-use-government-power-in-support-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ “There exists indeed an opposition to it \[ building of UVA, Jefferson's secular college \] by the friends of William and Mary, which is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-exists-indeed-an-opposition-to-it-building-of-uva-jefferson-s/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-clergy-converted-the-simple-teachings-of-jesus-into-an-engine-for/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Benevolent quotes > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Intelligent Design opens the whole possibility of us being created in the image of a benevolent God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/intelligent-design-opens-the-whole-possibility-of-us-being-created-in/) [William A. 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You can't have both free will and a benevolent higher power who protects you from yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/you-can-t-have-it-both-ways-you-can-t-have-both-free-will-and-a/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [A universal peace, it is to be feared, is in the catalogue of events, which will never exist but in the imaginations of visionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-universal-peace-it-is-to-be-feared-is-in-the-catalogue-of-events/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [I worship nothing. Not a good lie nor a dark one. If nature is proof of God's amazing creation then I have truly seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-worship-nothing-not-a-good-lie-nor-a-dark-one-if-nature-is-proof-of/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [What am I writing for anyway? Is it like dreaming? Is it a benevolent process? 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