Displacing Jesus

“Displacing Jesus is a remarkable book that calls readers to take seriously ‘Jefferson’s Bible,’ an edited version of the Gospels that scholars have often cited only selectively. By showing in detail how Thomas Jefferson crafted a Jesus detached from context, emerging out of nowhere to initiate global moral reform, Charles Wilson sheds new light on Jefferson’s faith and the very American tradition of enlisting Jesus to serve our own purposes.”


—Douglas Casson, professor and chair of political science, St. Olaf College





“Charles Wilson presents an incisive, original, challenging, and skillfully organized analysis of Thomas Jefferson’s reconstruction of the four Gospels and his private religious views. He convincingly explains his ‘displacement’ title. He exhibits complete command of the necessary primary and secondary sources as well as Scripture. Scholars will applaud and value the annotated footnotes. The chapter on Jefferson’s religion is superb. Serious students of Jefferson need to read this book.”


—Steven Greiert, professor emeritus of history, Missouri Western State University