Telling Jefferson Lies: Debunking the Myth that America was Founded as a Christian Nation

Exploring the dangers of Christian nationalism in politics and religion, including state-sponsored violence, erosion of democracy, and attacks on minority rights. Discussion with expert guests on the negative impacts of intertwining religion and government. Highlighting real-life examples and the connection to extremist views in American society.

Send us a textAs promised, here is the completion of my examination of David Barton's whitewashing of Thomas Jefferson. In our book Getting Jefferson Right: Fact-Checking Claims About Thomas Jefferson, Michael Coulter and I assume the position held by most scholars and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation when it comes to the paternity of Sally Hemings children, i.e., Thomas Jefferson was their father. In The Jefferson Lies, David Barton deceives readers about what Madison Hemings said about his mother. Here is what Barton said Hemings told a Pike County (OH) newspaper in 1873."The other major oral tradition challenging Jefferson’s sexual morality came from Sally Hemings’ son Madison (the fourth Hemings child, born in 1805). In an article published in an Ohio newspaper in 1873, Madison Hemings claimed that in France “my mother became Mr. Jefferson’s concubine, and when he was called back home she was enceinte [pregnant] by him” with Thomas Woodson."Here is what Madison Hemings actually had published in that newspaper:"But during that time my mother became Mr. Jefferson’s concubine, and when he was called home she was enciente by him. He desired to bring my mother back to Virginia with him but she demurred. She was just beginning to understand the French language well, and in France she was free, while if she returned to Virginia she would be re-enslaved. So she refused to return with him. To induce her to do so he promised her extraordinary privileges, and made a solemn pledge that her children should be freed at the age of twenty-one years. In consequence of his promises, on which she implicitly relied, she returned with him to Virginia. Soon after their arrival, she gave birth to a child, of whom Thomas Jefferson was the father. It lived but a short time. She gave birth to four others, and Jefferson was the father of all of them. Their names were Beverly, Harriet, Madison (myself), and Eston—three sons and one daughter. We all became free agreeably to the treaty entered into by our parents before we were born. We all married and have raised families."Hemings did not mention Woodson because he was irrelevant. Sally Hemings first child lived but "a short time." Barton didn't tell his readers that part of the story.The Monticello website on Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/jefferson-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-a-brief-account/Research Report: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/jefferson-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-a-brief-account/research-report-on-jefferson-and-hemings/SHOW NOTES:For more information about Getting Jefferson Right, go to gettingjeffersonright.com.  The closing song is Were You There by LoFi Hymnal. https://open.spotify.com/track/19oJxhr6efnpU7LVBzUQz2?si=c94873948db84fbdBackground music by Jonathan Swaim, Roman Candle, and Warren ThrockmortonThe series will conclude during the final week of April with an episode on the virtues of the separation of ch

Send us a textThis supplements episode 10, Still Searching for Christian America, Part Two. You can listen to this first, but I definitely encourage you to go back and catch up if you do. Everybody in Christian nationalism is talking about the seven mountains message. The message is at the root of much violent rhetoric coming from Christian nationalists but according to one of the key players in the movement, the origin story is fake. Helping me out in this bonus episode is Senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies Matthew Taylor; English prof at University of North Georgia Matthew Boedy, and attorney and theologian Joel McDurmon.From the episode:"Remember, all of this rhetoric has been directly inspired by a teaching that is based on a false story. Let’s keep it real, God did not show Loren Cunningham, Lance Wallnau, Mike Crotts, Johnny Enlow or anyone that the Christian’s mission in this world is to take the government by stealth or by force. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." SHOW NOTESHosted, written and produced by Warren ThrockmortonClosing song is Endless Runner by the amazing Robo Surgeon Fish.https://open.spotify.com/track/5IyxikZ3PJYyFWhdoLkbCf?si=c7409ab3f4be4c6cTelling Jefferson Lies Playlist with many of the songs featured in the series:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2yMPnORBMXNa0JuJP2u5uo?si=3e6463d8fb554cacMatthew Taylor's podcast Charismatic Revival Fury:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/charismatic-revival-fury-the-new-apostolic-reformation/id1738709631Many of the clips for the series come from Right Wing Watch, especially those documenting the violent rhetoric of Christian nationalist leaders.  I encourage you to follow them on social media. 

Professor Julie Ingersoll and guests discuss the National Prayer Breakfast movement, right-wing Christian nationalists, Reconstructionists, and non-denominational charismatic Christian nationalists. They explore the historical inaccuracies of Christian America, the influence of the National Prayer Breakfast Movement, and the rise of Christian Reconstructionism. The podcast delves into the parallels between Jerry Falwell and Donald Trump's rhetoric, the evolution of Dominion theology, and the intertwining of Christian nationalist ideologies with politics since the Eisenhower era.

Mark Noll and George Marsden discuss the absence of a uniquely Christian founding of the US. The podcast explores Christian nationalism variations including white nationalism and Catholic integralism. It delves into the consequences of distorting history and the dangers of linking Christian nationalism with white supremacy.

Send us a textStephen Wolfe's book The Case for Christian Nationalism ignited a firestorm of controversy when it was released in 2022.  In the book, Wolfe calls for revolt against tyranny and for Christians to mobilize at the state and local level to enact self-conscious Christian governments. In principle, according to Wolfe, Christian state's could use violence to maintain a Christian social order. With the help of Cato Institute historian Paul Matzko, podcast host Warren Throckmorton analyzes how Wolfe deals with Thomas Jefferson and highlights differences from other Christian nationalists such as David Barton. Also joining the program is Grove City College Dean of Arts and Letters and church historian Paul Kemeny. The Apostle Paul is also quoted so if you like Pauls, this episode is for you. SHOW NOTES:Paul Matzko's review of The Case for Christian Nationalism at Reason Magazine.https://reason.com/2023/05/13/beware-the-christian-prince/Thanks to Charles Norman and the Larry Norman Estate for permission to play Larry Norman's song, "Six, Sixty, Six" as today's closing song. Telling Jefferson Lies' theme song is "The World Awaits Us All" by Roman Candle. Thanks to Skip Matheny and Roman Candle for permission to play their music.Jonathan Swaim and I provide background music for today's episode.  

Send us a textSHOW NOTES:This bonus episode is a supplement to Conspiracy of Silence (Episode Seven of Telling Jefferson Lies). It provides the audio of the Family Research Council Capitol Tour led by David Barton followed by the the response of 35 historians and social scientists who, in 2013, asked FRC to remove the video from social media. You can watch the original video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzGdHZDXxKITo get the story, listen to the Conspiracy of Silence, episode seven. Written and produced by: Warren ThrockmortonNarrated by: Michael Coulter and Warren ThrockmortonOpening song by Jonus FairClosing song: "Rise" by Dustin BlatnikDustin Blatnik on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5SK6CsLVrHGckh7EBGavO2Background music by Jonus Fair and Warren ThrockmortonWatch for Jonus Fair coming soon to the digital world. 

Send us a textAfter David Barton's book The Jefferson Lies was pulled from publication in August, 2012, some Christian organizations wrote critical articles and publicly distanced themselves from Barton and Wallbuilders. Other groups some were caught off guard. The leaders of these groups knew they had false and misleading material being offered to their constituents, but they didn’t make any moves to remove it. This episode examines how two of those organizations, Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, handled the situation. I wish I could say this episode has a happy ending. Ultimately, what began as a conspiracy of silence ended even quieter than it started. From the episode:"What is so important about those stories that the leadership of a Christian organization would decide that deception and gaslighting are good strategies? Where in the manual for running a Christian organization does it say to hide the truth when someone points out that you are spreading misinformation?"Guests today: , Fred W. Beuttler was Deputy Historian of the U. S. House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010.  He currently teaches history and government at The University of Chicago’s Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies. Jay Case is professor of history at Malone College in Akron Ohio, Jared Burkholder is professor of history at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, Gregg Frazer is Dean of Humanities at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, CA and Katherine Stewart is the author of The Power Worshippers and The Good News Club.SHOW NOTES:Hosted by: Michael Coulter and Warren ThrockmortonWritten and Produced by: Warren ThrockmortonTheme Song: "The World Awaits Us All" by Roman CandleRoman Candle on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3V65gQpFTfYzIOqjOf18eSClosing Song: "Walking Backwards Down the Stairs" by Larry NormanUsed by permission of Charles Norman and the Larry Norman EstateBackground Music by: Dustin Blatnik, Jonus Fair, Jonathan Swaim, & Warren ThrockmortonHere is more on the Aitken Bible story, including a partial correction by Barton (although he doesn't ever say he was wrong). https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/05/24/david-barton-debunks-himself-regarding-the-aitken-bible/ My blog post on PA v. Chamber - Focus on the Family case. https://wthrockmorton.com/2013/09/09/what-focus-on-the-family-took-out-of-david-bartons-talk/

Send us a textThis is a continuation of last week's episode on whitewashing Jefferson. Today, we specifically take on Barton's contention that Jefferson was a civil rights hero for African Americans and was a strong anti-slavery advocate during his entire life.In fact, after 1784, Jefferson's promising beginning as an opponent of slavery faded away. While he continued to advocate emancipation, he linked it with deportation. He always believed that Blacks and Whites could not live together in one nation. He dedicated himself to the business of slavery and as president, supported the expansion of the American slave trade into Louisiana. Today's episode is hosted by Warren Throckmorton and Michael Coulter. We are pleased to have Monticello librarian Anna Berkes, historian Troy Jackson, attorney and theologian Joel McDurmon, and author and historian Jemar Tisby join us for this episode.Next week's episode is titled Conspiracy of Silence and deals with fallout from The Jefferson Lies and the response of Family Research Council and Focus on the Family to their awareness that they were promoting false and misleading historical information via their organizations.  SHOW NOTES:This information didn't make it into the podcast but gives an insight into the scope of the American slave trade which was enabled by Thomas Jefferson.In his book, The Problem of Slavery in Christian America, Joel McDurmon also cites the figure of 875,000 slaves marched by slave traders from the Mid-Atlantic states south and west. The following information is also taken from his book. "Thomas R. Dew, who was the president of William and Mary College and a powerful proslavery voice, openly stated in his coauthored The Proslavery Argument: “Virginia is, in fact, a negro raising State for other States; she produces enough for her own supply, and six thousand for sale”—6,000 for sale, that is, every year." We cite a speech by Henry Wiencek in this episode. You can hear the whole speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oflCFaMGhF4. His book is Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves Jemar Tisby referred to his book The Color of Compromise in the last episode. Gettingjeffersonright.com - Go here for more information about our book Getting Jefferson R

Send us a textWhy did Thomas Nelson pull David Barton's book The Jefferson Lies from publication in 2012? Last week, we started to answer that question. This week we continue to provide specific illustrations of the historical errors which triggered that unprecedented move by Thomas Nelson. In this episode, we focus on the errors regarding race and slavery. We spend a significant amount of time demonstrating how David Barton deliberately omitted parts of the 1782 Virginia law on manumission. We submit he did this to whitewash Jefferson's record and actions as an enslaver of human beings. Even if this whitewashing was not intentionally racist, the obstruction of the record regarding racism, according to our guests, conspires with people who are racist to maintain a societal environment where racism endures.  In this episode, hosts Michael Coulter and Warren Throckmorton are joined by historian and author Jemar Tisby, historian Troy Jackson, attorney and theologian Joel McDurmon, historian Gregg Frazer, and pastor and social worker Joel Bowman to reflect on the whitewashing of Jefferson. We also hear from pastor Ray McMillian who asks a critical question: Can we eradicate racism if we have racists as heroes?SHOW NOTES:Michael Nicholls Manumission Pagehttps://libguides.usu.edu/virginia-manumissionsRobert Carter Appreciation Day, August 1.https://wthrockmorton.com/2012/08/01/august-1-robert-carter-appreciation-day/Theme Song is The World Awaits Us All by Roman CandleClosing Song is Ain't It a Shame to Work on Sunday by the Jubilee QuartetBackground music is provided by Jonus Fair and Warren ThrockmortonTelling Jefferson Lies is written and produced by Warren ThrockmortonFor more information about the book Getting Jefferson Right, go to gettingjeffersonright.com. Note on Virginia laws on manumission: Virginia's legislature did amend them frequently throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Jefferson's financial situation clearly influenced his ability to emancipate enslaved people. However, that is not the argument Barton made in The Jefferson Lies. We countered the argument he made. In this episode, we demonstrate Barton's effort to whitewash Jefferson's record by making it appear that Jefferson had no choices because Virginia law prohibited emancipation. Of course, after 1782, this was not true.  After Barton was caught doing manipulating the record, he later said that Virginia laws favored emancipation by enslavers who were financially better off. No doubt that is true, but I don't believe that exonerates Jefferson.  If you want to pull white privilege and argue that the desire of a white man for his fine wine, exotic plants, rare books, constant home improvements at Monticello, life free from hard manual labor, and other accoutrements of a Southern enslaver outweighed the natural right of several hundred human beings to be free just because they were African, then I will most certainly judge you accordingly. David Barton praises Jefferson for his donations to Bible societies and purchases of Bibles and religious books with borrowed money. Every purchase of God's Holy Word came at the expense of the dignity and freedom of God's Holy Image Bearers being held captive at Monticello. Selah.