Isabella Carter
The US Constitution does not directly mention God or Jesus, and is considered a secular document. However, it does use the formula the year of our Lord in Article VII, and some state constitutions also contain religious references. For example, the constitutions of Arizona, California, and Georgia begin with expressions of gratitude to Almighty God for liberties and freedom. The preamble to the Constitution declares wholly secular objectives, such as establishing justice and securing the blessings of liberty, which reflect the religious diversity of 18th-century America and the view that religion was a matter of individual choice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of countries whose constitutions contain references to God | 34 |
| Number of mentions of God in state constitutions | 116 |
| Number of mentions of "Lord" in state constitutions | 32 |
| Number of mentions of "Lord" in state constitutions that refer to "the year of our Lord" | 31 |
| Number of mentions of "Christian" in state constitutions | 7 |
| Number of mentions of "Supreme Being" or "Sovereign Being" in state constitutions | 14 |
| Number of mentions of "Creator" in state constitutions | 7 |
| Number of mentions of "Providence" in state constitutions | 4 |
| Number of mentions of "Divine" in state constitutions | 4 |
| Number of mentions of "Almighty" in state constitutions | 46 |
| Number of European countries whose constitutions do not make reference to God | 6 |
| Number of new constitutions that do not mention the supernatural in the preamble | 14 |
| Number of new constitutions that do not have a preamble | 5 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution does not directly mention God or Jesus
The US Constitution acknowledges the broad spectrum of religious diversity in America at the time and promotes no sect, taking no position on theological issues. The Founding Fathers intended to ensure religious freedom and protect people's religious beliefs and activities. The Constitution is a blueprint for stable and effective republican government in a free country. The Preamble to the Constitution declares wholly secular objects:
> "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
While the US Constitution does not directly mention God or Jesus, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII, which is a reference to the Christian calendar. Additionally, the religious diversity of 18th-century America meant that religion was widely viewed as a matter of voluntary individual choice.
In contrast to the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence contains several references to God. The Founding Fathers' letters and writings indicate that their Christian faith influenced them greatly. However, the US Constitution is a secular document that does not favour any specific religion.
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The US Constitution does refer to the year of our Lord
The US Constitution does refer to "the year of our Lord", dating its ratification as "in the year of our Lord 1787". This is the only reference to "Lord" in the US Constitution, and it is not considered a direct reference to God. The US Constitution is a secular document that does not mention God and aims to separate government and religion while protecting religious beliefs and activities. This is in contrast to the Declaration of Independence, which contains several references to God and justifies rebellion to secure God-given rights.
The US Constitution's secular nature reflects the religious diversity of 18th-century America, where religion was viewed as a matter of individual choice. The Constitution promotes no particular sect and takes no position on theological issues. This is further evidenced by the absence of references to God in the main body of the text. Instead, the Constitution focuses on establishing a stable and effective republican government, promoting values such as justice, domestic tranquility, common defence, general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty.
While the US Constitution itself does not mention God, it is important to note that the constitutions of many individual states do. For example, the constitutions of Arizona, California, Georgia, and Maine explicitly express gratitude to Almighty God or the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe for their liberties and blessings. These state constitutions often contain multiple references to God, with Massachusetts having eight mentions, and New Hampshire and Vermont each having six.
The Founding Fathers, who drafted the US Constitution, were influenced by the Christian faith and the Enlightenment thinkers of their time. Benjamin Franklin, for instance, appealed to his colleagues during the Constitutional Convention to seek God's help, acknowledging the role of divine protection in their struggle against Great Britain. However, Franklin was also noted for being one of the least religious among the Founding Fathers.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution does refer to "the year of our Lord", it is not a direct reference to God and is the only instance of the word "Lord" in the document. The Constitution's secular nature reflects the religious diversity of the time and aims to protect religious freedom while establishing a government that represents all citizens equally.
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The US Constitution is a secular document
The United States Constitution is a secular document that does not reference God or Jesus. The Constitution's preamble declares its purposes, which are wholly secular, including establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, and promoting general welfare. The Constitution's religious neutrality is intentional, reflecting the religious diversity of eighteenth-century America and the importance placed on religious freedom.
While the Constitution itself does not mention God, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII, indicating the year of ratification as 1787. Additionally, the religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers and their influence on the Constitution are well-documented. Benjamin Franklin, for example, appealed to his colleagues during the Constitutional Convention to seek God's help, and many of the Founding Fathers were members of Trinitarian churches and Bible societies.
The Founding Fathers were also influenced by Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, David Hume, Montesquieu, John Locke, and Sir William Blackstone, some of whom wrote about Christianity and its influence on government and law. However, the Constitution's secular nature is evident in its absence of theological positions or endorsements of specific sects.
In contrast to the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, another foundational document of the United States, contains several references to God and justifies rebellion to secure God-given rights. The inclusion of God in the Declaration reflects the influence of religion on the Founding Fathers and the role of religion in the early American republic.
While the US Constitution is a secular document, it is important to acknowledge the influence of Judeo-Christian values and the religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers on the shaping of the nation. The Constitution's religious neutrality and protection of religious freedom allow people across the religious spectrum to interpret and derive meaning from it.
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State constitutions refer to God, Lord, and Almighty
The US federal constitution does not make an explicit reference to God. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. While the US Constitution does not mention God, state constitutions do refer to God, Lord, and Almighty.
State Constitutions that Refer to God, Lord, and Almighty
State constitutions in the US mention God, Lord, or Almighty at least once, and nearly 200 times overall. Most state constitutions refer to God more than once. Of the 116 times the word appears in state constitutions, eight are in the Massachusetts constitution, and New Hampshire and Vermont have six references each. 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.” While there are 32 mentions of the word “Lord,” all but one refer to “the year of our Lord” and so are not direct references to God.
- Arizona: "We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution."
- California: "We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution."
- Georgia: "We, the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution."
- Maine: "We, the people of Maine, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and, imploring God’s aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the State of Maine and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same."
- Alabama: "We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama."
- Utah: "Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we, the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION."
- Washington: "We, the people of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this constitution."
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The Founding Fathers were influenced by Christianity
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a varied group of individuals with different beliefs and backgrounds. The religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers are a topic of much debate, with some arguing that they were influenced by Christianity, while others claim they were Deists or even atheists.
Firstly, it is important to note that the Founding Fathers, as a group, did not share a uniform set of beliefs or practices. They had diverse religious backgrounds and perspectives, and their influence on the founding of the nation was shaped by their individual experiences and values.
That being said, it is true that many of the Founding Fathers were influenced by Christianity to varying degrees. Some of the Founding Fathers, such as John Jay, George Washington, and Edward Rutledge, were raised in the three largest Christian traditions of colonial America: Anglicanism. These individuals may have been influenced by Christian values and teachings in their political and personal lives. Additionally, the Founding Fathers were products of their time and culture, and Christianity played a significant role in the social and political landscape of colonial America. It is likely that their thinking and decision-making were shaped, at least to some extent, by the Christian values prevalent in their society.
However, it is worth noting that the Founding Fathers also embraced religious tolerance and freedom of religion. They believed in the separation of church and state and advocated for a system of government that respected faiths like Christianity while keeping them separate from governance. This is evident in the First Amendment of the Constitution, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". Additionally, the religious landscape of 18th-century America was diverse, and religion was widely viewed as a matter of individual choice. The Founding Fathers reflected this diversity in their respect for different faiths and their commitment to protecting religious freedom.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the influence of Deism on the Founding Fathers. Deism is a philosophical belief in human reason as a means of solving social and political problems, and many of the Founding Fathers, including Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and Monroe, were influenced by this ideology. Deism stood for rational inquiry, skepticism about dogma, and religious toleration, which may have guided the Founding Fathers towards more liberal political ideals and a respect for individual freedoms.
In conclusion, while the Founding Fathers were influenced by a range of factors, including Christianity and Deism, they ultimately created a nation based on religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Their intention was to establish a country where individuals were free to practice their religion without governmental intrusion, and this legacy continues to shape American society today.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US Constitution does not directly mention God due to its religious neutrality and the importance it places on religious freedom.
The US Constitution does not directly use the word "Lord" in reference to God. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII.
Yes, the US Constitution mentions "blessings" in the phrase "secure the Blessings of Liberty".
Yes, most state constitutions refer to God, with 34 doing so more than once.
Yes, constitutional references to God exist in the constitutions of several countries, often in the preamble. Some examples include Ireland, Canada, Poland, and Ukraine.
