It is difficult— actually impossible— to judge an 18th century man by 21st century standards. Jefferson was a man of his time. Washington and others were slaveholders too. When Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal” he knew as he was writing it that it did not apply to his time— but through evolution he could picture the day when mankind would treat mankind with greater awareness. Jefferson knew it would take radical, enlightened action to change the heart of humanity to form “a more perfect union,” not a perfect union. His radical step of editing the four canonical gospels was a positive, radical step— and one we can look up to in a world moving away from religion, but closer to spirituality.