It wouldn't have had the same cadence. I'd be more than willing to agree that Jefferson would not be too disturbed by people who just accept his principals as self evident Truths without worrying about how they came to be. But, your argument reduces them from Truth to social norms. That he would have trouble with.
From Jefferson's argument in favor of the disestablishment of religion, to be found in his "Notes on Virginia," (pp. 234-237,)
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. Constraint may make him worse by making him a hypocrite, but it will never make him a truer man."
"Reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these free inquiry must be indulged; how can we wish others to indulge it while we refuse it ourselves? But every state, says an inquisitor, has established some religion. No two, say I, have established the same. Is this a proof of the infallibility of establishments?"
"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."
-- Doug _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
