Jonah Patel
The topic of whether the word God appears in the US Constitution is an interesting one, especially when considering the religious history of the nation and its founding fathers. The US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion, and while it does not directly mention God, it does use the phrase the year of our Lord in Article VII. This has been interpreted by some as a reference to a higher power, while others view it as a custom or tradition. The omission of the word God in the US Constitution is notable, especially when compared to the state constitutions, where God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 states, with nearly 200 mentions overall.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does the word "God" appear in the US Constitution? | No |
| Does the US Constitution refer to a "Supreme Being" or "Supreme Power"? | Yes, the phrase "the year of our Lord" is used in Article VII. |
| Is there a mention of God in state constitutions? | Yes, all but four state constitutions (Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington) use the word "God" at least once. |
| Do other countries' constitutions mention God? | Yes, some countries' constitutions include invocations or nominations of God, while others do not to preserve religious neutrality. |
| Is the inclusion of God in constitutions a recent debate? | Yes, there are varying opinions on whether the inclusion of God in constitutions is appropriate, with some arguing for a separation of church and state. |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution does not reference God
The United States Constitution does not include the word "God" or a direct reference to God. This is despite the fact that the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times, including the phrase "the laws of Nature and of Nature's God".
The Founding Fathers' omission of God from the Constitution was not accidental. They were aware of the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe, and so they were cautious about including any reference to a supreme deity in the charter. This became known as the doctrine of separation of church and state.
The Constitution is clear on the subjects of freedom of religion and freedom from religion, as outlined in the First Amendment. This is in contrast to the constitutions of individual states, which, with the exception of Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington, use the word "God" at least once.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII, and there are seven mentions of the word "Christian". However, the inclusion of "the year of our Lord" in the ratification clause has been dismissed by some as a mere custom.
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The Founding Fathers' intentions
The Founding Fathers of the United States were influenced by various Christian denominations. The Declaration of Independence, one of the key founding documents in American history, mentions God four times and states that the rights of the nation come from the "Creator".
However, the US Constitution does not contain any reference to God. This was a deliberate omission by the Founding Fathers, who were aware of the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe. They chose to endorse a separation of church and state, with the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, it is important to note that the constitutions of many individual states do. All but four state constitutions—Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—use the word "God" at least once, and some states refer to a “Supreme Being” or “Supreme Ruler of the Universe". Additionally, the phrase "In the Year of Our Lord" appears in Article VII of the US Constitution, and some have interpreted this as a reference to God.
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God in state constitutions
The US Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine. However, it does make reference to “the year of our Lord”. There are also seven mentions of the word "Christian".
The Founding Fathers deliberately chose not to endorse any appropriation of God in the charter that was to become the US Constitution. They were aware of the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe and wished to distance themselves from this. This became known as the doctrine of separation of church and state.
However, the same cannot be said of the nation's state constitutions. 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—those in 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, stating that the people of Hawaii are "grateful for Divine Guidance".
Most state constitutions (34) 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. Perhaps surprisingly, 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", 46 instances of the word "almighty", and 32 mentions of the word "Lord" (although all but one refer to "the year of our Lord").
A handful of state constitutions explicitly prohibit those who do not believe in God from holding public office. However, these bans have not been enforced since the early 20th century and were ruled a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments by the US Supreme Court in 1961.
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God in other countries' constitutions
The US Constitution does not include the word "God" or a direct reference to a deity. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. The Founding Fathers deliberately omitted any reference to God or a supreme deity due to concerns about the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe. Instead, the US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.
Now, let's look at references to God in the constitutions of other countries:
State Constitutions within the United States
God or the divine is mentioned in the constitutions of all 50 states within the United States, with nearly 200 references overall. For example, 34 state constitutions refer to God more than once, with Massachusetts having eight mentions, and New Hampshire and Vermont each having six. Interestingly, these three states are among the least religious in the country, according to a 2016 Pew Research Center analysis. In addition to references to God, there are also mentions of a Supreme Being, "Creator", "providence", "divine", and "Almighty."
European Countries
Some European countries whose constitutions do not mention God include Norway (1814), Luxembourg (1868/1972), Iceland (1944/68), Italy (1947), Portugal (1976), and Spain (1978). However, it is important to note that the concept of God or the divine can be interpreted differently in various cultural and religious contexts. Historically, invocations of God were common in European legal documents and treaties between Christian nations until the late 19th century.
Other Countries
- The Basic Law of Saudi Arabia mentions God, stating that "God's Book and the Sunna of His Prophet" form the country's constitution.
- The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 contains a reference to God in its preamble.
- The constitutions of ex-Soviet republics and dependent states generally do not mention the supernatural in their preambles, instead referring to secular values. However, the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia added a reference to God.
- The UK does not have a formal written constitution but has various pieces of legislation that have accumulated over time. While there is no direct mention of God, the national anthem is "God Save the King/Queen," who is also the head of the Anglican Church.
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God in the Declaration of Independence
The word "God" does not appear in the US Constitution. The Founding Fathers deliberately omitted any reference to a supreme deity in the charter that was to become the Constitution. They were cautious of endorsing any appropriation of God due to the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe. The US Constitution, therefore, became known as the doctrine of separation of church and state.
On the other hand, the Declaration of Independence 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 founders recognized that they had not created the power to establish a nation but that the power was given to them by God. The second reference to God is as the Creator who endows humans with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The third mention of God is as the Supreme Judge of the World, recognizing that justice is God's idea and not man's. The final sentence of the declaration culminates with a reminder that freedom and citizenship are a sacred honor granted by the "divine Providence".
The Founding Fathers' references to God in the Declaration of Independence were generic, allowing adherents of various theistic sects to interpret them as referring to the god they worship. The Declaration, therefore, united all Americans behind the Revolution and independence, with the understanding that their rights were unalienable and their liberty inviolable.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, it guarantees freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion, as explicitly stated in the First Amendment. Additionally, the constitutions of all fifty states reference God or the divine at least once, with nearly 200 mentions overall.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the word "God" does not appear in the US Constitution. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII.
The Founding Fathers deliberately omitted any reference to "God" or a supreme deity in the US Constitution. They were wary of endorsing any appropriation of "God" due to the history of divine rights of kings and theocratic governments in Europe. This became known as the doctrine of separation of church and state.
Yes, 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—those in Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington—use the word "God" at least once.
