Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine. However, it does use the formula the year of our Lord in Article VII. The word religion appears only twice in the Constitution: once when it forbids any religious test for public office, and again in the First Amendment, which says that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. These sixteen words of the First Amendment have become the charter of religious freedom in America. While the US Constitution does not reference God, the nation's state constitutions do. God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times God is referenced in the US Constitution | 0 |
| Number of times God is referenced in state constitutions | 116 |
| Number of state constitutions that reference God | 46 |
| Number of state constitutions that do not reference God | 4 |
| Number of times the word "Christian" is mentioned in the US Constitution | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution never explicitly mentions God
The Founding Fathers of the American republic acknowledged that religion promoted individual morality and civic virtue, but they did not want the new national government to interfere in matters of religion or conscience. By the time of the Constitutional Convention, most of the nation believed that an establishment of religion violated religious liberty. The Constitution was drafted to promote no sect and took no position on theological issues.
The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, explains and justifies a rebellion to secure God-given rights, invoking a Supreme Being several times. The references to God in the state constitutions restate the assertions made in the Declaration about the divine origin of the people's liberty. The US Constitution is a blueprint for a stable and effective republican government in a free country, with wholly secular objects; religious references are extraneous in such a document.
The constitutions of 34 states refer to God more than once, with God or the divine mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. 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 Constitution's prohibition on religious tests for public office.
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The US Constitution does use the formula the year of our Lord
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, which is a dating convention that has been interpreted as a reference to the Christian faith. This phrase is not part of the Constitution itself, as it appears in the Attestation Clause, which serves as a witness to the document's signing.
The use of "the year of our Lord" in the US Constitution is a result of the long tradition of invoking God in legal documents, known as "invocationes dei" in Latin. This practice has been common in European legal history, particularly in the Middle Ages, where formulas such as "In the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" were used to emphasise the fairness and justness of the norms being created.
While the US Constitution does not make a direct reference to God, it is worth noting that the constitutions of all 50 states mention God or the divine at least once, with nearly 200 mentions overall. These references to God or a Supreme Being are seen as serving a historical function, reflecting the shared religious faith and traditions of the respective states.
The inclusion of "the year of our Lord" in the US Constitution has been criticised by some as a violation and a disgrace, arguing that it implies a religious element to the document. However, it is important to note that the phrase was likely included unintentionally by the scribe, Jacob Shallus, as it aligned with his personal style and the conventions of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, rather than as a deliberate attempt to inject religion into the Constitution.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution does use the formula "the year of our Lord," it is not a direct reference to God and does not make the document religious in nature. The phrase is a remnant of historical legal traditions and the personal style of the scribe. The US Constitution, therefore, maintains its secular character, with any interpretations of it being a Christian document being fallacious.
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The word religion appears twice in the US Constitution
The word "religion" appears twice in the US Constitution. The Constitution guarantees that religion can never be a requirement for holding public office. The First Amendment to the US Constitution states that the country shall have no official religion. The first clause prohibits Congress from adopting any particular religion, while the second clause, known as the Free Exercise Clause, prohibits Congress from interfering with an individual's exercise of religion.
The Free Exercise Clause protects an individual's right to believe and practice their religion. It safeguards them from laws that would expressly prohibit them from engaging in religious practices. The Supreme Court has interpreted the limits of this clause, allowing the government to legislate against certain religious practices, such as bigamy and peyote use.
The US Constitution's reserve stance on religion troubled two groups of Americans. The first group wanted the new government to give faith a larger role, while the second group feared that it would do so. The Bill of Rights only expressly limits the federal government, so before the Fourteenth Amendment, states were not required to adhere to the protections of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause.
The US Constitution does not mention God, but it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. Additionally, there are seven mentions of the word "Christian."
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State constitutions refer to God or the divine at least once
The US Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. It also includes seven mentions of the word "Christian".
In contrast, every state constitution in the US references God or the divine at least once. 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 constitutions of 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, expressing gratitude for "Divine Guidance".
The inclusion of God or the divine in state constitutions is consistent with the Declaration of Independence, which includes four religious references: "Nature's God," the "Creator," the "Supreme Judge of the world," and "divine Providence." The references to God in state constitutions restate the assertions made in the Declaration about the divine origin of the people's liberty.
While most state constitutions refer to God or the divine, there are varying numbers of references across states. Massachusetts and North Carolina topped the list with the highest number of religious references. Eight mentions were in the Massachusetts constitution, and New Hampshire and Vermont had six references each. In addition to the 116 mentions of God, there were also 14 mentions of a Supreme or Sovereign Being, seven mentions of the "Creator," and four mentions of "divine".
Some state constitutions explicitly prohibit non-believers from holding public office. However, these bans have not been enforced recently as they are generally assumed to violate the US Constitution's prohibition on religious tests for public officeholders.
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The constitutions of 34 states refer to God more than once
The United States Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. The word "religion" appears only twice in the Constitution. Once when it forbids any religious test for public office, and again in the First Amendment, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These sixteen words of the First Amendment have become the charter of religious freedom in America.
The Founding Fathers of the American republic drafted the Constitution in 1787, and it began with the words: "We, the people of the United States." By the time of the Constitutional Convention, most of the nation believed that an establishment of religion violated religious liberty. The Founding Fathers acknowledged that religion promoted individual morality and civic virtue, but they didn't want the new national government to interfere in matters of religion or conscience.
However, the state constitutions of 34 states refer to God more than once. 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, which states that the people of Hawaii are "grateful for Divine Guidance."
Some state constitutions explicitly prohibit non-believers from holding public office. However, these bans have not been enforced because they are assumed to violate the Constitution's prohibition on religious tests for public office.
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Frequently asked questions
God is not referenced in the US Constitution.
By the time of the Constitutional Convention, most of the nation believed that an establishment of religion violated religious liberty. The Founding Fathers acknowledged that religion promoted individual morality and civic virtue, but they didn’t want the new national government to interfere in affairs of religion or conscience.
The word "religion" appears twice in the US Constitution. Once when it forbids any religious test for public office, and again in the First Amendment, which says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
The US Constitution does not reference God as such, but it uses the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII.
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.
