Scholars spoke about the various books and ideas that shaped the religious theology and philosophy of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They focused on how various works by religious leaders, Enlightenment philosophers, and personal experiences shaped their spiritual lives, and at the same time led these founders of the republic to be suspicious of organized religion’s role in social and political affairs. They also talked about how their different experiences with Anglican, Unitarian, and Universalist traditions shaped their ideas about political philosophy. The answered questions from the audience.
The program “Jefferson, Adams, and Religion” took place Saturday morning, June 27, 2009, at Monticello. It was part of the two-week conference, “John Adams and Thomas Jefferson: Libraries, Leadership, and Legacy,” sponsored by the Boston Public Library, Massachusetts Historical Society, and Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies.