It's long been an element of American lore that Thomas Jefferson took a razor to his Bible, ripping out pages that he found unpalatable while leaving intact most of Christ's sermons. This has, of course, thrown a wrench into the beliefs of a few Christians who have tried to paint the Founding Fathers and their spiritual lives with a semi-angelic brush; but for most Christians, this is simply evidence that Thomas Jefferson listened a little too closely to Thomas Paine when he declared, "My mind is my church."  Jefferson (unfortunately) made himself the sole arbiter of truth.

Mitch Horowitz now asks a fascinating and under-considered question, though: what would have happened if Jefferson's little book had made it to the publisher during his lifetime, and what would his legacy have been? In the midst of a political climate where faith is a matter of very significant debate, it might be worth asking how Jefferson would fit in - and how he should fit in.

The scenario is, of course, entirely hypothetical, but as we consider the role of Christianity in the public square today, it's at least worth remembering that this is not a new issue... and today's politicians haven't taken a razor to the Bible yet.