Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution is a secular document that does not mention God, Jesus, or any other religious figure or concept. However, it is widely believed that the Bible influenced the Constitution, as it was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805. The founding fathers were readers of the Bible, and it is argued that it influenced their worldview and political thought, including their understanding of human nature, civil authority, and political society. The Bible's influence can be seen in the Constitution's separation of powers, measures to check government powers, and the inclusion of oaths of office.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Bible as a source of moral, philosophical, religious, and political influence | The Bible was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805 |
| The role of ministers and traditional Whigs | The Bible was a strong influence on the justifications for the break with Britain, the rationale for continuing the war, and the basic principles of Americans writing their own constitutions |
| The Puritans and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639 | The Puritans in the American colony of Connecticut drafted the first written constitution in the world, which had a significant impact on America's modern constitutions |
| The influence of colonial and state constitutions | The state constitutions, influenced by the Puritans' Bible-inspired covenantal constitutions, shaped the governing principles and laws of the U.S. Constitution |
| The Great Awakening and Enlightenment thinkers | The political philosophies of the time were shaped by a God-oriented worldview based on or consistent with the Bible |
| The Declaration of Independence | The American Declaration of Independence is considered to be based on Biblical foundations and precepts of God's Word |
| The influence on liberty and law | The Bible's principles influenced the concepts of natural rights, the Law of Nature, and the theory of separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution |
| The role of the Founding Fathers | The Founding Fathers sought guidance from the Bible and believed in the dignity of man under God |
| The separation of church and state | The Constitution's authors intended to separate church and state, while still being influenced by Biblical principles |
| The Bible's accessibility and authority | The Bible was the most accessible, authoritative, and venerated text in 18th-century America, influencing the intellectual and political thought of the founding generation |
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What You'll Learn
The Bible as a moral compass
The Bible is often regarded as a moral compass that has guided many people throughout history, including the Founding Fathers of the United States. The Bible was a significant influence on the political and legal systems established during the country's formative years.
The Bible was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805, according to Lutz's research presented in "Origins". It was a powerful moral, philosophical, religious, and political influence on the founding-era Americans and their political ideas. The prominence of ministers in the political literature of that period further attests to the influence of religion.
The Puritan constitutions of the 1600s in New England, which were based on covenants from the Bible, established the groundwork for modern constitutions. These Puritan constitutions had a significant impact on the form and content of America's later constitutions. The Puritans in the American colony of Connecticut drafted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut in 1639, which is considered the world's first written constitution.
The Founding Fathers of the United States were influenced by a variety of intellectual traditions, including British constitutionalism, Enlightenment liberalism, and classical and civic republicanism. However, the Bible held a unique position as the most accessible, authoritative, and venerated text in 18th-century America. They regarded the Bible as a handbook for cultivating morality and ethics, even if some questioned its divine origins.
The Bible's influence can be seen in the following ways:
- The concept of original sin and humankind's fallibility, as described in Genesis 3, inspired the creation of a system of checks and balances to counter the potential corruption of those in power.
- The belief in a future state of rewards and punishments, as described in the Bible, often formed the basis for oaths of office, which were common in the founding era.
- The Hebrew commonwealth described in the Old Testament was seen as a divinely inspired model for republican government, influencing the requirement for each state to maintain "a Republican Form of Government" in Article IV, § 4, cl. 1 of the Constitution.
- The Bible's teachings on civil authority, political society, and human nature informed the institutions of law and civil government.
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Separation of church and state
The United States Constitution was influenced by the Bible and various philosophical and political theories. The Bible was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805, and it was a strong influence on the founding-era Americans who drafted and ratified the Constitution. The Puritans in the American colony of Connecticut drafted the first written constitution in the world, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639, which was Bible-inspired.
However, the US Constitution also emerged from a variety of philosophical influences, including colonial and state constitutions, the Great Awakening, modern Enlightenment thinkers, and the Declaration of Independence. These influences were shaped by a God-oriented worldview based on and/or consistent with the Bible. The founding fathers were committed to a government not overly entangled with religion. They believed that faith in God gave man dignity, but they also wanted to protect all Americans' deeply held beliefs.
The concept of the "separation of church and state" is derived from a term coined by Thomas Jefferson in his 1802 letter to members of the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. Jefferson was responding to a letter from the Baptist community, who were concerned about their status as a religious minority and feared religious persecution. In his response, Jefferson emphasised that the First Amendment's free exercise and establishment clauses together built "a wall of separation between church and state." This concept was promoted by Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke, and it has been defended by Americans United for nearly 80 years as a pillar of democracy and a way to ensure freedom and equality for all.
The separation of church and state enables all Americans to practice their deeply held beliefs in private and in public. It protects everyone's right to live as themselves and believe as they choose, as long as they don't harm others. It also ensures that the government cannot exercise undue influence over Americans' spiritual and religious lives. For example, the separation of church and state has led to ending school-mandated prayer and banning the government from coercing Americans to participate in religious activities.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution was influenced by the Bible, the founding fathers also recognised the importance of separating church and state to protect the religious freedom of all Americans.
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The Bible's influence on the Founding Fathers
The Bible is said to have been a strong influence on the Founding Fathers of the United States. The Bible was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805, surpassing all secular writers. The Puritans in the American colony of Connecticut drafted what is considered the world's first written constitution, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639, which was Bible-inspired. The American practice of constitutions began with these covenantal constitutions in New England in the 1600s.
The Bible was a strong moral, philosophical, religious, and political influence on the Founding Fathers and their political ideas. The Bible was also the most accessible, authoritative, and venerated text in 18th-century America. The Founding Fathers regarded it as a great handbook for nurturing morality and ethics. They drew on diverse intellectual traditions, including British constitutionalism, Enlightenment liberalism, and classical and civic republicanism, but the Bible undergirded the justification for the break with Britain, the rationale for continuing the war, and the basic principles of Americans writing their own constitutions.
The Founding Fathers sought to establish a government for a pluralistic society, and they found no better source than the Bible for the ingredients they sought to establish a free people. The Bible's influence is seen in the three branches of government, as advised by Polybius and Montesquieu, and the system of checks and balances. The Bible's influence is also seen in the measures to separate and check government powers, mandate oaths of office, and prohibit double jeopardy.
The Founding Fathers also saw in the Bible the political and legal models that they sought to incorporate into their political and legal systems. For example, the Constitution's requirement for every state to maintain "a Republican Form of Government" may have been influenced by the Hebrew commonwealth described in the Old Testament, which the Founding Fathers believed provided a divinely inspired model for republican government.
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The Bible's impact on the political landscape
The Bible has had a significant influence on the political landscape of the United States, particularly during the founding era from 1760 to 1805. It was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of that time, surpassing all secular writers. The Bible provided a moral, philosophical, religious, and political framework that influenced the thinking and actions of founding-era Americans.
One of the key impacts of the Bible on the political landscape was its influence on the concept of liberty and law. The Bible's teachings on original sin and human nature informed the framers' understanding of the need for a system of checks and balances to limit government power. The Bible also shaped the understanding of natural rights and the Law of Nature, which underpinned the idea of unalienable rights and a moral standard for law and justice. The concept of a "Republican Form of Government" mandated by the Constitution may also have been influenced by the Hebrew commonwealth described in the Old Testament, which the founding generation saw as a divinely inspired model for republican government.
The Puritan constitutions in New England in the 1600s, such as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639, were directly influenced by the Bible and had a significant impact on America's modern constitutions. These covenantal constitutions established principles such as the intervention of the people in public affairs, free voting of taxes, responsibility of those in power, personal liberty, and trial by jury.
Additionally, the Bible's influence extended to the separation of powers in the American government. John Adams, following the advice of Polybius and Montesquieu, pushed for a separation of powers into three branches, drawing from the Old Testament record (Isaiah 33:22). This separation of powers was designed to prevent the concentration of power in a single individual or group, reflecting the Bible's caution against the dangers of human fallibility and corruption.
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The Bible and the law
The Bible is said to have influenced the US Constitution in several ways. Firstly, it provided a moral, philosophical, religious, and political framework that shaped the political ideas of founding-era Americans. The Bible was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805, and its ideas were often referenced by writers such as Locke and Blackstone, who recognised a Creator of the universe and applied this perspective to their political theories.
Secondly, the Bible's influence can be seen in the separation of powers into three branches of government, as advised by Polybius and Montesquieu, and pushed for by John Adams, drawing from the Old Testament record (Isaiah 33:22). This separation of powers informed the Founders' system of checks and balances in the American government.
Thirdly, the Bible provided political and legal models that the founding generation sought to emulate. For example, the requirement in Article IV, § 4, cl. 1, of the Constitution for every state to maintain "a Republican Form of Government" may have been influenced by the Hebrew commonwealth described in the Old Testament, which the founding generation believed provided a divinely inspired model for republican government.
Additionally, the Puritan constitutions of the American colony of Connecticut in the 1600s, such as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639, were Bible-inspired and had a significant impact on America's modern constitutions. These covenantal constitutions established principles such as the intervention of the people in public affairs, free voting of taxes, responsibility of the agents of power, personal liberty, and trial by jury, which became the groundwork for modern constitutions.
While the Bible's influence on the US Constitution is evident, it is important to note that the Constitution does not talk about God, Jesus, heaven, hell, or any other explicitly religious concepts. The Founding Fathers sought to establish a government for a pluralistic society and intentionally separated church and state, drawing from ideas of the Age of Enlightenment.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was influenced by the Bible, which was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805. The Bible provided a moral, philosophical, religious, and political influence on the political ideas of founding-era Americans.
The Bible provided a legal and political framework that influenced the US Constitution. For example, the concept of freedom of speech may have originated from the Biblical understanding of 'logos', and the idea of a fallen public official comes from the Biblical understanding of original sin. The Bible also informed the founding generation's views on law and civil government, and the separation of powers into three branches.
The requirement for every state to maintain "a Republican Form of Government" may have been influenced by the Hebrew commonwealth described in the Old Testament. The practice of taking oaths of office may have been premised on the Biblical belief in a future state of rewards and punishments.
The US Constitution was also influenced by colonial and state constitutions, the Great Awakening, modern Enlightenment thinkers, and the Declaration of Independence. The Founders drew on diverse intellectual traditions, including British constitutionalism, Enlightenment liberalism, and classical and civic republicanism.
