But Jefferson never denied that everyone with a free mind also has free will. Jefferson wrote against slavery and had slaves so there is no going from what you are intellectually free to think to what you are morally free to do.
Belief by its nature CANNOT be forced as the Constitution (n which Jefferson's principles are enshrined) states.
OUr rights are God-given says Jefferson yet you state the opposite in saying religion could be made illegal.
but the main flaw in the statement is this: Calling something 'religious' does not alter anything. Killing babies by abortion is wrong. You can call that a religious view but that would be YOU trying to forestall the real discussion. Plus it totally denies that many who would say that they are religiousl held the view prior to becoming religious.
You will find that in the Founding era almost everyone was on guard against those who wanted to disqualify discussion by labelling it religious.
