Eleanor Finch
The constitutions of several nations contain references to God, most often in the preamble. A reference to God in a legal text is called invocatio dei, while a reference to God in another context is called nominatio dei. In the United States Constitution, the word God is notably absent. However, the formula the year of our Lord is used in Article VII. While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, all 50 state constitutions reference God or the divine at least once. The Founding Fathers deliberately omitted any reference to God or a supreme deity in the US Constitution, remembering the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does the US Constitution have the word "God" in it? | No |
| Does the US Constitution have any references to a deity? | Yes, oblique references |
| Does the US Constitution mention religion? | Yes, twice |
| Do state constitutions mention God? | Yes, all 50 states |
| Do state constitutions mention the divine? | Yes, all 50 states |
| How many times do state constitutions mention God? | 116 times |
| How many times do state constitutions mention the divine? | 14 mentions of a "Supreme or Sovereign Being", 7 mentions of "Creator", 3 mentions of "Providence", 4 mentions of "divine", 46 instances of "Almighty" |
| Do other countries' constitutions mention God? | Yes, notably in several European constitutional traditions and in the constitutions of Islamic countries |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution does not include the word God
The US Constitution does not include the word "God". It also does not include any explicit references to a deity. The omission of the word "God" from the US Constitution was intentional and is often referred to as the doctrine of separation of church and state. The Founding Fathers were aware of the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe, and so they chose to keep religion and civil authorities separate.
The US Constitution does, however, use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. This is a common oblique reference to a deity in the signatory section of documents from the 18th century. The word "religion" appears twice in the US Constitution. The first instance is in relation to the prohibition of religious tests for public office, and the second is in the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, all 50 state constitutions do refer to God or the divine at least once, and there are nearly 200 mentions overall. Some state constitutions refer to a “Supreme Being” or “Supreme Ruler of the Universe”, while others mention the “Creator”, “Providence”, the “Divine”, or the “Almighty”. A handful of state constitutions even prohibit those who do not believe in God from holding public office, although these bans are not enforced as they violate the US Constitution's prohibition on religious tests for public office.
In contrast to the US Constitution, constitutional references to God exist in the constitutions of several nations, often in the preamble. Such references are called invocatio dei ("invocation of God") if the text is proclaimed in the name of a deity, and nominatio dei ("naming of God") if the reference is in another context. These references are found in several European constitutional traditions, reflecting the strong position of established churches in those countries, as well as in the constitutions of Islamic countries.
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The US Constitution does refer to the year of our Lord
The US Constitution does not explicitly mention God or any other deity. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. This phrase is an example of an invocatio dei, or "invocation of God," which was common in legal documents of the time.
The absence of a direct reference to God in the US Constitution was not an accidental omission by the Founding Fathers. They deliberately chose to exclude any mention of God or a supreme deity, likely due to their awareness of the historical issues surrounding the divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe. Instead, the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion, as outlined in the First Amendment.
While the US Constitution does not include the word "God," it is worth noting that nearly all state constitutions do. God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. These references to God or the divine serve various purposes, such as legitimizing governmental power by associating it with divine authority or expressing support for a specific religion.
The inclusion of "the year of our Lord" in the US Constitution can be seen as a historical remnant of the traditional invocatio dei in legal documents. It does not necessarily carry the same religious weight as explicit references to God or a supreme being. However, it does indicate a connection to the shared religious faith and history of the nation at the time.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution does refer to "the year of our Lord," it is important to understand this phrase in the context of the Founding Fathers' deliberate exclusion of direct references to God. This omission was intentional and reflected their desire to separate church and state, guaranteeing religious freedom for all Americans.
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State constitutions reference God or the divine
The United States Constitution does not include the word "God". However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII.
While the US Constitution does not reference God, the state constitutions of all 50 states do. These state constitutions mention God or the divine at least once, and nearly 200 times overall. All but four state constitutions—Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—use the word "God" at least once. The constitutions in Colorado, Iowa, and Washington refer to a "Supreme Being" or "Supreme Ruler of the Universe," while Hawaii's constitution mentions the divine in its preamble, which states that the people of Hawaii are "grateful for Divine Guidance".
Of the 116 times the word "God" appears in state constitutions, eight are in the Massachusetts constitution, and New Hampshire and Vermont have six references each. Interestingly, all three of these states are among the least religious in the country, according to a 2016 Pew Research Center analysis. In addition to the 116 mentions of God, there are also 14 mentions of a Supreme or Sovereign Being, seven mentions of the "Creator", three mentions of "providence", four mentions of "divine", and 46 instances of the word "almighty".
The Texas Constitution includes seven mentions of God or the divine. Florida, Georgia, and Oregon's constitutions refer to God or the divine three times, while Washington's constitution mentions it once.
The inclusion of religious references in state constitutions has raised questions about the separation of church and state. However, it is important to note that the US Constitution guarantees that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
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The Founding Fathers deliberately omitted God
The Founding Fathers wanted to establish a separation between church and state, as reflected in the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion. This deliberate omission of God in the Constitution turned religion into something loose and free in America. It allowed for religious diversity and ensured that people of different faiths or no faith at all could feel included and that the country was theirs as much as it was for those who believed in God.
The Founding Fathers recognized that invoking God in a legal text could serve various purposes, such as legitimizing governmental power by declaring it to be exercised according to God's will. However, they chose not to include such invocations in the Constitution, opting for religious neutrality instead. This decision stands in contrast to the state constitutions, where all but four—Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—use the word "God" at least once.
The Founding Fathers' deliberate omission of God from the Constitution demonstrates their intention to create a secular government that respects and protects the religious freedom of its citizens. By not endorsing any particular religious beliefs or doctrines, they ensured that the Constitution would be inclusive and applicable to a diverse range of religious and non-religious individuals and groups.
While the Founding Fathers omitted explicit references to God in the Constitution, there is an oblique reference to a deity in the signatory section, which reads, "Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of Our Lord." This type of reference to God was common in the 18th century, and it is not a strong endorsement of religion.
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The Declaration of Independence mentions God
The Declaration of Independence, the document that officially cut off ties between America and Britain, mentions God four times. The first mention of God occurs in the very first sentence of the declaration, which refers to the source of power being the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God". The second mention of God refers to Him as the "Creator" who endows humans with unalienable rights, including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". The third mention of God calls Him the "Supreme Judge of the World", recognising that justice comes from God, not man. The final mention of God is in the last sentence of the declaration, which says that "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor".
The Founding Fathers prioritised including these sentiments to demonstrate that the Lord wants humans to be happy on Earth. The "Divine Providence" they refer to is God, and their belief in His protection. The document embraces the idea that freedom was sealed in His protection and love. The Founding Fathers were aware of different religious beliefs, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and American Indian belief systems, and the appellations of God are generic. This allowed adherents of traditional theistic sects to understand the text to mean the god they worship, while opponents of dogma could interpret the text as a non-sectarian concept of divinity.
The United States Constitution, on the other hand, does not contain the word "God". However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. At the state level, the constitutions of 46 states mention "God" at least once, with 34 referring to God more than once.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the word "God" is not mentioned in the US Constitution. The word religion appears twice, once in the Constitution's prohibition of religious tests for public office and again in the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom.
The Founding Fathers deliberately omitted any reference to a supreme deity in the US Constitution. They were cautious about endorsing any appropriation of God due to the historical memory of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe. This omission became known as the doctrine of separation of church and state.
God or the divine is mentioned in every state constitution, with all but four state constitutions—Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—using the word "God" at least once.
