Quoted: Jefferson had a tremendous influence on the principle of "religious freedom" underscored in the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson's "Bill For Establishing Religious Freedom" written for the state of Virginia was, in his own opinion, one of his greatest works and contributions to America.
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I don't think anyone is debating the fact that his ideology was very similar to many of the other FF's. I just think it's disingenuous to ascribe authorship of anything in the Constitution or BOR to him either directly or even indirectly.
Sometimes it seems that the libs want to make him out to be a slave-raping aristocrat, while conservatives wish to pump up his resume' without basis in historical fact. The man's contributions were great without embellishment. Why can't we leave it at that?
ETA: The origins of Religious Freedom in the colonies date to the founding of Rhode Island in 1636. You might as well give equal credit to Roger Williams for the First Amendment. That is, unless you think the "separation of Church & State" is to be found somewhere in the BOR.