Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. However, it does use the formula the year of our Lord in Article VII, and the word religion appears twice in the document. Notably, the First Amendment states that the country shall have no official religion, guaranteeing religious freedom. This has been a topic of debate in the US, with some arguing that the country was founded on Christian values, while others emphasize the absence of religious references in the Constitution and the separation of church and state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does the US Constitution mention God? | No, it does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. |
| Does the US Constitution contain any religious references? | Yes, the US Constitution uses the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. |
| Are there any religious references in state constitutions? | Yes, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. |
| Do state constitutions have any religious restrictions for public office? | Yes, a handful of state constitutions prohibit those who do not believe in God from holding public office, but these bans are not enforced as they violate the US Constitution's prohibition on religious tests for public office. |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is a secular document
The United States Constitution is a secular document. Unlike the Declaration of Independence, which mentions God four times, the Constitution does not explicitly refer to God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. The Constitution's intention was to separate government and religion while protecting people's religious beliefs and activities. The absence of any mention of God in the Constitution indicates that the founders did not intend to create a Christian nation. This is further supported by the fact that the Constitution contains the word "religion" only twice, in Article 6, which exempts government office holders from religious tests, and in the First Amendment.
While the Constitution itself does not mention God, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. This phrase was commonly used to record dates at the time and is not considered a direct reference to God. Additionally, some have argued that the Constitution references concepts central to Christianity, such as morals, reason, and free will. The Founding Fathers' Christian faith greatly influenced America's founding documents, and the principle of religious freedom was of high importance to those at the Constitutional Convention, even though the majority present ascribed to the Christian faith.
In contrast to the Constitution, the state constitutions of all 50 states mention God or the divine at least once, with nearly 200 mentions overall. These references to God in the state constitutions often acknowledge God as the source of people's liberties and invoke His favor and guidance. Additionally, six states still have constitutional provisions disqualifying persons who deny the existence of God from holding office, although these provisions are generally not enforced and have been ruled as violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
The difference in religious language between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution may be due to the different delegates who signed each document. Only six individuals signed both, and the delegates to the Constitutional Convention may have been less religious or more pragmatic in their use of religious language than those who drafted the Declaration. While the founders' Christian faith influenced their thinking, they recognized the potential harm in combining religious zeal with governmental power. Therefore, the absence of explicit religious language in the Constitution reflects the founders' intention to create a secular document that protects religious freedom.
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The Declaration of Independence mentions God four times
The United States Constitution does not contain any reference to God. However, the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times. The Founding Fathers, who drafted the Declaration, referred to God as the "Creator" and the "Great Judge of the Universe". They also described the "rights" that God endowed to all women and men, including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".
The Declaration of Independence was viewed as an apology for revolution against Great Britain. The Founding Fathers also believed in "divine Providence", or God's protection and love, which granted them freedom and citizenship. The Declaration states:
> "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
The references to God in the Declaration of Independence are significant as they acknowledge God's role as the maker and protector of nature and humanity. They also highlight the belief that God intends for people to live with certain rights and liberties, which cannot be taken away.
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State constitutions refer to God
The US Constitution does not explicitly mention God or the divine. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. While this is not a direct reference to God, it does mention "Lord".
In contrast, all 50 state constitutions in the US refer to God, the Creator, or a Supreme Being. According to a Pew Research Center analysis, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. All but four state constitutions—Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—use the word "God" at least once. The other 34 state constitutions refer to God more than once.
The references to God in state constitutions often acknowledge God as the source of people's liberties, and many of them invoke His favour and guidance. For example, the preambles of many state constitutions, such as Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Maine, express gratitude to Almighty God for liberties, blessings, and guidance.
The state constitutions of Colorado, Iowa, and Washington refer to a "Supreme Being" or "Supreme Ruler of the Universe". Hawaii's constitution mentions the divine in its preamble, expressing gratitude for "Divine Guidance". Delaware's constitution acknowledges "Divine Goodness" and the rights of people to "worship and serve their Creator". The Virginia Bill of Rights refers to the duty that "we owe our Creator".
The inclusion of references to God in state constitutions has been attributed to various purposes, such as legitimizing governmental power by declaring it to be exercised according to God's will, anchoring the state in history and tradition, or reflecting a commitment to shared values such as human dignity.
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The Constitution mentions the year of our Lord
The United States Constitution does not directly mention or refer to God. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII, which is a reference to the Christian God. This phrase was used to record dates at the time and does not necessarily carry any religious weight or imply that the Constitution is a religious document.
The United States Constitution was drafted by a group of delegates during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. This group of delegates has been described as less religious than those who drafted the Declaration of Independence, which mentions God several times. The absence of direct references to God in the Constitution may seem surprising given the religious nature of the Declaration.
The phrase "in the year of our Lord" is used in the Constitution's ratification clause to denote the year 1787. This phrase has been interpreted by some as a reference to Jesus Christ as Lord and, therefore, an acknowledgment of the Christian faith. However, skeptics argue that this phrase was merely a custom of the time and does not hold any religious significance.
It is worth noting that while the federal Constitution does not explicitly mention God, the constitutions of many individual states do. These include California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, Washington, and the territory of Puerto Rico. The state-level constitutions often use invocations such as "God the Almighty" or the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe."
Additionally, it is important to mention that while the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, it also does not deny the existence of a higher power. The delegates who drafted the Constitution held varying religious beliefs, and some, like Benjamin Franklin, advocated for seeking God's help during the Constitutional Convention.
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The Constitution mentions religion twice
The United States Constitution does not explicitly mention God or Jesus Christ. However, it does contain the phrase "the year of our Lord" in Article VII, and the word "religion" appears twice in the document. Once in Article 6, which exempts government office holders from a religious test, and once in the First Amendment. The Constitution also references concepts central to Christianity, such as morals, reason, and free will.
While the Constitution itself does not mention God, the state constitutions of all 50 states in the US do. They refer to God or the divine at least once, and nearly 200 times overall. The states of California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and Washington, and the territory of Puerto Rico, make a reference to God. They generally use an invocation of "God the Almighty" or the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe".
The absence of a direct reference to God in the US Constitution is notable, especially considering that the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by some of the same individuals, invokes a Supreme Being or "Nature's God" four times. This has led to debates about the role of religion in the United States and the intention of the Founding Fathers. Some have argued that the Founding Fathers intended to create a Christian nation, while others maintain that they sought to separate government and religion while protecting people's religious beliefs and activities.
The inclusion of God in state constitutions has had legal implications. For example, several states had constitutional provisions disqualifying non-believers from holding office, but these provisions were ruled a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments by the US Supreme Court in 1961 and are no longer enforced.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. It is considered a secular document.
Yes, the word "religion" is mentioned twice in the US Constitution. Article 6 exempts government office holders from a religious test, and the First Amendment also mentions religion.
Yes, the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times, although it does not use any explicitly Christian language.
Yes, God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall.
