evidence: Care must also be taken in evaluating Jefferson’s statements on religion, both because he often defined terms in a rather idiosyncratic manner, and because many comments with literal religious significance must be understood in the context of social convention as much as theology (e.g. telling a bereaved spouse that he/she might meet the departed in an afterlife may evidence empathy as much as theology). Still, much can be said about Jefferson’s religion. [...] Given these views, Jefferson’s relationship with Christianity was complicated. He believed that Jesus was the "first of human sages," noting that his philosophy, "freed from the corruptions of later times" – including Jesus’ divinity, resurrection, and miracles – "is far superior" to others because Jesus preached "universal philanthropy, not only to kindred and friends, to neighbors and countrymen, but to all mankind…."[11] With this in mind, Jefferson said that Christianity would be the best religion in a republic, especially one like the United States with a broad diversity of ethnicities and religions.