Simone Lawson
The mention of God in constitutions has varied across different countries and their respective states/provinces. While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, the state constitutions do. The US Constitution is considered a secular document, with the word 'religion' mentioned only twice. In contrast, God is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall. The constitutions of several European countries, including Norway, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, also do not refer to God. However, countries like Ireland and Canada have constitutional references to God, which have been cited in Supreme Court rulings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times God is mentioned in the US Constitution | 0 |
| Number of times God is mentioned in the state constitutions | 116 |
| Number of times Supreme Being is mentioned in the state constitutions | 14 |
| Number of times Creator is mentioned in the state constitutions | 7 |
| Number of times Providence is mentioned in the state constitutions | 3 |
| Number of times Almighty is mentioned in the state constitutions | 46 |
| Number of times Lord is mentioned in the state constitutions | 32 |
| Number of times Christian is mentioned in the state constitutions | 7 |
| Number of state constitutions that prohibit non-believers in God from holding public office | 4 |
| Number of state constitutions that mention God at least once | 46 |
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What You'll Learn
God in the Declaration of Independence
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. State constitutions, on the other hand, mention God or the divine at least once, and nearly 200 times overall.
Now, the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, contains four mentions of God. 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 recognised that the power to establish a nation was given to them by God. Second, God is referred to as the Creator Who endows humans with unalienable rights, including "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". In other words, God is the granter of human rights and the Creator of natural law. Third, God is called the "Supreme Judge of the world". The founding fathers recognised that justice is God's idea, and that true justice will prevail. Fourth, the final sentence of the declaration says, "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 founders entrusted themselves to God, whom they believed had protected them and would continue to do so.
The Declaration of Independence, therefore, displays the founders' understanding of and trust in God.
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Religious tests for public office
The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention God or the divine. However, it does include the phrase "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. The Constitution also contains a prohibition on religious tests for public office, commonly known as the No Religious Test Clause. This clause is included in Article VI and states that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States".
The inclusion of the No Religious Test Clause was influenced by the historical use of religious tests in England and the colonies, where such tests were used to exclude those who were not members of the official state religion, such as Catholics and "nonconforming" Protestants. The Test Acts, in force in England from the 1660s to the 1820s, required government officials to take an oath disclaiming the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation and affirming the Church of England's teachings. Many colonists had left England to escape religious persecution and sought to prevent the establishment of a state religion in the new nation.
During the state ratification debates, the constitutional prohibition on religious tests was controversial, as most states still retained some form of religious test for public officeholders. Some delegates opposed the provision, arguing that it would allow non-Christians to hold public office. Despite this opposition, the No Religious Test Clause was adopted and has provided a foundation for America's constitutional commitment to religious liberty and equality. The Supreme Court has interpreted this provision broadly, invalidating any required oath to serve anything other than the Constitution.
While the U.S. Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office, some state constitutions have included such provisions. For example, Pennsylvania's constitution specifically protects officeholders with religious beliefs but is silent on whether those without such beliefs are also protected. Additionally, several state constitutions require an oath to God for employment in the public sector. However, these requirements are unenforceable due to Supreme Court decisions and the interpretation of the No Religious Test Clause.
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State constitutions mentioning God
While the US Constitution never explicitly mentions God or the divine, the same cannot be said for the nation's state constitutions. 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 – 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 only in its preamble, which expresses gratitude 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. 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 references to God or the divine in state constitutions are also reflected in the Declaration of Independence, which includes four religious references: "Nature's God," the "Creator", the "Supreme Judge of the world", and "divine Providence."
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The US Constitution's secular nature
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. This phrase was a common way to record dates at the time and is not considered a direct reference to the Christian God. The Constitution also mentions that no bill can be signed into law on a Sunday, which may be interpreted as a reference to doing God's work.
The absence of religious references in the US Constitution does not indicate hostility towards religion or its unimportance. Instead, it recognises that religion would flourish better without government interference. This approach to religion is in stark contrast to the Declaration of Independence, which includes phrases such as "Nature's God" and "Divine Providence".
While the US Constitution establishes a secular government, religious traditions and expressions of faith have been prevalent in the nation's governmental institutions throughout its history. For example, George Washington petitioned for the establishment of the US Army Chaplain Corps, and Congress has opened with an invocation since 1789. Additionally, the national motto, "In God We Trust", has been minted on US currency.
Some argue that the US Constitution should not be wholly secular, as secular constitutions in communist and totalitarian regimes have led to the destruction of religious life, with the state becoming supreme over religious institutions and the natural rights of individuals.
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Religious freedom in the First Amendment
The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion". This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion but also prohibits actions that favour one religion over another. It also prohibits the government from preferring religion over non-religion, or vice versa.
The Establishment Clause has been interpreted in various Supreme Court rulings. For example, the Supreme Court has permitted religious invocations to open legislative sessions and the use of public funds for private religious school transportation. However, the Court has ruled against overtly religious displays at courthouses and state funding for teacher salaries at religious schools. There is also debate over religious monuments on public land, with cities prohibited from installing new ones, but no clear consensus on removing existing ones.
While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention "God", it does use the phrase "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. This phrase was commonly used to record dates at the time and does not imply a reference to the Christian God. The absence of explicit religious references in the US Constitution reflects the country's intention to separate church and state.
In contrast, the state constitutions of all but four states (Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington) mention "God" or a "Supreme Being". These references often acknowledge God as the source of people's liberties and invoke His guidance and favour. However, these state constitutions also adopted the First Amendment's approach to religious freedom, prohibiting religious tests for public officeholders.
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Frequently asked questions
God is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution. However, the phrase "the year of our Lord" is used in Article VII.
Yes, the word "religion" appears twice in the US Constitution. Firstly, when it forbids any religious test for public office, and secondly, in the First Amendment, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
Yes, God or the divine is mentioned in every state constitution in the US, except for Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington. In total, there are nearly 200 references to God across all state constitutions.
The US Constitution is considered a secular document, aiming to separate government and religion while protecting people's religious beliefs. The Founding Fathers intended to keep religion and civil authorities separate, allowing religion to be free in America.
Yes, several countries have references to God in their constitutions, including Ireland, Canada, and various European and Islamic countries.
