Isabella Carter
The US Constitution is a secular document that does not mention God, except for the usage of the formula the year of our Lord in Article VII. The First Amendment to the Constitution also states that the country shall have no official religion. However, the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times, and most state constitutions reference God or the divine. The US motto, In God We Trust, reflects the religious sensibilities of American citizens, and presidents have traditionally sealed their oath of office with the phrase so help me God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does the US Constitution mention God? | No, the US Constitution does not mention God. |
| Does the US Constitution mention the Bible? | No, the US Constitution does not mention the Bible. |
| Does the US Constitution mention religion? | The US Constitution does not mention any specific religion. However, it uses the phrase "the year of our Lord." It also states that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." |
| Do state constitutions mention God? | Yes, nearly all state constitutions reference God or the divine. |
| Does the Declaration of Independence mention God? | Yes, the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times. |
| Does the US Constitution express sensitivity to biblical convictions? | Yes, it permits presidents to swear or affirm their oaths, and it excludes Sundays from the ten-day time limit for a presidential veto. |
| Are there any other references to God in US law or culture? | Yes, the Pledge of Allegiance includes the words "under God," and the national motto is "In God We Trust." Christmas Day is the only federal holiday that is also a religious holiday. |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution does not mention God
The US Constitution is a secular document that provides protections for the religious sensibilities of citizens. It expresses sensitivity to biblical convictions. For example, it permits presidents to swear or affirm their oaths, and it excludes Sundays from the ten-day time limit during which a president has to veto a law. The Constitution also echoes the Bible's promotion of human worth by resting its authority on "the People," without identifying them as God's chosen ones.
The founders were quite willing to invoke God when making their case against the abuses of England, but the US Constitution does not mention God. Many of the men who championed the godless Constitution stayed aloof from dogmatic forms of Christian faith, but most of them believed in a God who rewarded good and punished evil in an afterlife. They respected the moral teachings of Christ and hoped that they would prosper among Americans and in the churches.
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State constitutions reference God
The US Constitution does not reference God, but nearly all state constitutions do. According to a 2017 analysis, 46 out of 50 states mention the word "God", with 34 of those states doing so more than once. The states that do not use the word "God" are Colorado, Iowa, Hawaii, and Washington. However, these states include some form of religious reference, such as "Supreme Being", "Supreme Ruler of the Universe", or "Divine Guidance". Overall, there are almost 200 references to God or the divine across the various state constitutions.
The inclusion of God in state constitutions is not unique to the United States. Several European countries with a long constitutional history and a shared religious faith include references to God in their constitutions. For example, the invocation of God in the Preamble of the Constitution of Ireland has been cited in Supreme Court rulings. In ancient times and the Middle Ages, gods or God were commonly invoked in contracts to guarantee agreements.
The references to God in US state constitutions are 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 state constitutions also reflect the country's founding principles, which were based on notions of unalienable rights and government answerability to the people.
Some state constitutions also contain provisions that deny elective office to anyone who does not believe in God. However, these provisions are likely unenforceable as they violate the US Constitution's prohibition on religious tests for public officeholders.
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The US Constitution is ordained to God
The US Constitution is a secular document that does not explicitly mention God. However, it recognises the existence of a higher power and includes protections for the religious sensibilities of citizens. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and conscience, and ensures that religious belief or unbelief is neither a qualification nor a disqualification for public office.
While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, it does use the phrase "the Year of our Lord" in Article VII, indicating a recognition of the Christian calendar and a reference to God in a broader sense. Additionally, the Constitution expresses sensitivity to biblical convictions by permitting presidents to swear or affirm their oaths and excluding Sundays from the time limit for presidential vetoes.
The founding fathers of the US Constitution had diverse religious beliefs, with most identifying as Protestants and some as Deists or Roman Catholics. They intended to create a nation that encompassed all religious faiths, or none at all. The Declaration of Independence, another key founding document, mentions God four times and affirms the existence of a Creator who endowed all humans with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, it is ordained to God in the sense that it acknowledges a higher power, protects religious freedoms, and recognises the existence of a Creator who endowed humans with certain rights. The founding fathers of the Constitution intended to create a nation that respected religious sensibilities while also ensuring freedom of religion and conscience for all citizens.
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The US motto, 'In God We Trust'
The motto "In God We Trust" has been the official motto of the United States since 1956. It was first used on coins during the Civil War and later became the official motto. The meaning of the motto denotes that the political and economic prosperity of the nation is in God's hands.
The history of "In God We Trust" becoming the official motto of the United States spans nearly a century. The earliest recorded usage of the motto in English was in January 1748 when The Pennsylvania Gazette reported on the colours of Associators regiments, namely that of Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania militia, one of which said: "A Coronet and Plume of Feathers. Motto, In God we Trust." The motto is also found in a publication of Isaac Watts' Psalter, which was revised and printed in the United States in 1785.
During the Antebellum period before the Civil War, some Americans called for the inclusion of "In God We Trust" on currency, but this was rejected as it was seen as a violation of the First Amendment. However, as the country became ravaged by the Civil War, religious sentiment grew, and many Americans believed that the war was a result of Americans turning away from religion. In November 1861, Reverend M. R. Watkinson appealed to the Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, to add the phrase to all U.S. coins, stating that it would "place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed."
In response to this appeal, Chase instructed the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia to design a motto to be placed on newly minted coins. By 1863, Congress passed a law stating that a motto signifying trust in God could be placed on coins. The first coins with the motto "In God We Trust" were issued in 1864, and it has been in continuous use on various coins since then.
In the 1950s, there was wider adoption of the motto, and it began to appear on postage stamps and paper money. In 1955, Congress passed a law requiring "In God We Trust" to appear on all American currency, and in 1956, Congress passed a joint resolution declaring the phrase to be the national motto.
While the motto remains popular among the American public, some groups and individuals have objected to its use, arguing that its religious reference violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. These groups have filed lawsuits seeking to remove the phrase from currency and public property. However, these arguments have not overcome the interpretational doctrine of accommodationism, which allows the government to endorse religious establishments as long as they are all treated equally.
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Religious liberty in the US Constitution
The US Constitution does not make an explicit reference to God. However, it does use the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. The Constitution guarantees religious liberty and the free exercise of religion through the First Amendment, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This amendment was added to the Constitution in 1791 and is the first of several protections for religious liberty enshrined in US law.
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the federal government from establishing a national church or excessively involving itself in religion, particularly in a way that benefits one religion over another. This restriction has been extended to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment and the doctrine of incorporation. The Fourteenth Amendment also prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, guaranteeing equal protection under the law for all citizens.
The Supreme Court has played a significant role in interpreting and enforcing religious liberty, ruling on cases involving prayer in public schools, religious symbols on public property, and state subsidies for religious institutions. These rulings have affirmed the distinction between government action and individual liberty, allowing students to pray individually while restricting government actions that establish prayer.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also been a key defender of religious freedom, employing litigation, public education, and advocacy to protect the religious rights of all Americans, from Christians to members of minority faiths.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, the state constitutions of nearly all states reference either God or the divine. Additionally, God appears in other important American texts and symbols, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and US currency.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US Constitution does not mention God. However, it does use the formula "the Year of Our Lord" in Article VII.
Yes, the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times. It also states that rights are endowed by the "Creator" and come from God.
The US Constitution does not mention any specific religion. However, it does provide protections for the religious sensibilities of citizens. For example, it permits presidents to swear or affirm their oaths.
Yes, nearly all state constitutions reference either God or the divine. Seven states still have constitutional provisions disqualifying persons who deny the existence of God from holding office.
The US Constitution does not mention God because it is intended to encompass those of all religious faiths, or none at all. The First Amendment states that the country shall have no official religion.
