Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) 3rd President of the United States of America
Letter to Benjamin Rush (12 April 1803) http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/jeff1122.htm <br class="br">1800s, First Presidential Administration (1801&ndash;1805) <br class="br">Context: To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; & believing he never claimed any other.