Religion

In his notes to the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson puposes that we change rules on religion and to let people have their own religion and beliefs. He states that Galileo was sent to affirm that the world was round even though the government had said it was flat. Reason and experiment have been undulged, and error has fled before them. It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. What do you think Jefferson was trying to prove by stating this? Do you think he is successful at getting his point across?