Malcolm Rivera
The inclusion of God in a country's constitution is a topic that has been widely debated, with some countries choosing to include references to God and others opting for a secular approach. The United States Constitution, for example, does not explicitly mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity, indicating a separation of church and state. However, state constitutions within the US often include references to God, and the country's founding fathers were known to invoke God in their declarations. Other countries, such as Ireland and Canada, have also included God in their constitutions, impacting Supreme Court rulings and legal interpretations. The presence of God in a constitution can serve various purposes, from legitimizing governmental power to expressing support for a specific religion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| References to God | Found in the constitutions of several states in the US, such as California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, etc. |
| References are also found in the constitutions of Islamic countries and several European countries. | |
| The US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. | |
| Purpose of References | To legitimize governmental power by declaring it to be exercised according to the will of God. |
| To express the divine right of kings, as seen in early 19th-century monarchic national constitutions. | |
| To acknowledge the inherent limitations of human law and power. | |
| To anchor the state in history and tradition, especially in countries with a long constitutional history and a shared religious faith. | |
| To express governmental support for a specific religion, as seen in the German constitution of 1949. | |
| Other References | The US Constitution mentions "the year of our Lord." |
| The Declaration of Independence mentions God four times and is seen as evidence of the founders' religious intent. |
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What You'll Learn
God in the US Constitution and state constitutions
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 Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, contains several references to God.
At the state level, however, the constitutions of 46 states and the territory of Puerto Rico make a reference to God. They generally use an invocation of "God the Almighty" or the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe". All but four state constitutions—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".
The inclusion of God in state constitutions can be seen as a reflection of the shared values and history of the state and its citizens. It can also be interpreted as a way to legitimize the state's power by declaring it to be exercised according to the will of God. Additionally, a mention of God in a state constitution can be seen as a way to express support for a specific religion. For example, the mention of God in the preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been interpreted as a commitment to Christian teachings.
The references to God in state constitutions also reflect the religious landscape of the United States at the time of their drafting. For example, the inclusion of God in the constitutions of California, Georgia, and Maine can be seen as a restatement of the assertions made in the Declaration about the divine origin of the people's liberty. These references to God in state constitutions combine the guiding principles of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution into a single document.
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God in the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, contains several references to God. The document mentions God four times, with each reference demonstrating the founders' understanding of God's nature and power. 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". This acknowledges that power is given by God, rather than created by those in power.
The second reference to God in the Declaration of Independence is as the “Creator”, who endows humans with unalienable rights. This is in line with the belief that God is the granter of human rights and the creator of natural law. The rights endowed by God are described as "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
The third reference to God in the document calls God the "Supreme Judge of the World". This acknowledges that justice is an idea that comes from God, rather than man, and that true justice will prevail under God.
The final sentence of the declaration is the fourth and final reference to God. It 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". This demonstrates the founders' belief in God's protection and that their freedom was sealed in His protection and love.
While the Declaration of Independence contains several references to God, the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God or the divine. However, the constitutions of all 50 states mention God or the divine at least once, with a total of nearly 200 mentions across all state constitutions.
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Legitimizing the state
The inclusion of God in a constitution can serve to legitimize the state and its power. This is achieved by suggesting that the government's authority is derived from God, rather than, or in addition to, the will of the people. This notion of the "divine right of kings" was a principal function of nominatio dei in early 19th-century monarchic national constitutions. However, in modern democratic constitutions, references to God are not typically interpreted as an overt expression of this concept.
In the context of the United States, the state constitutions of 46 out of 50 states include at least one reference to God or the divine, with nearly 200 mentions overall. These references vary, with some states using invocations such as ""God the Almighty" or the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe." Interestingly, the U.S. Constitution itself does not explicitly mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. This absence of religious references in the nation's founding document has been interpreted as an indication that the Founding Fathers did not intend to establish a Christian nation. Instead, they created a system that allowed for the freedom of religion, where various faiths could exist and flourish.
The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, does include references to God. Phrases such as "Nature's God," "Creator," and "Supreme Judge of the World" are used, reflecting the religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers. However, these references are not explicitly Christian and do not establish an official state religion. The absence of religious tests for public office in the U.S. Constitution further reinforces the separation of church and state.
In other countries, such as Ireland, the invocation of God in the constitution has been cited in Supreme Court rulings. For example, in 1983, Chief Justice Tom O'Higgins referenced the people's "obligations to our Divine Lord Jesus Christ" in a ruling, demonstrating the influence of religious convictions on legal interpretations. In contrast, in Canada, the mention of God in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has had little effect on legal decisions.
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Anchoring the state in history and tradition
The inclusion of God in a constitution can serve to anchor the state in history and tradition. This is particularly true in countries with a long constitutional history and a shared religious faith. References to God in a secular constitution can perpetuate the tradition of invocationes dei of older constitutions and establish a general conception of statehood. For example, the concept of natural law has been used to elucidate unenumerated rights in the Irish constitution. In 1983, Chief Justice Tom O'Higgins stated that the people were "proclaiming a deep religious conviction and faith and an intention to adopt a Constitution consistent with that conviction and faith and with Christian beliefs."
In the United States, the state constitutions of 46 out of 50 states mention God or the divine, with nearly 200 mentions overall. These states include California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The US Constitution, however, does not explicitly mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity, and it does not establish an official religion. This separation of church and state is further emphasized by the First Amendment. Nonetheless, the US Declaration of Independence, which is not the law of the land, mentions God four times, referring to "Nature's God," "Creator," "Supreme Judge of the World," and "divine Providence."
The inclusion of God in a constitution can also serve to legitimize governmental power by declaring it to be exercised according to the will of God. This was a principal function of invocationes dei in early 19th-century monarchic national constitutions. Additionally, in some cases, it may express governmental support for a specific religion. For example, some authors have interpreted the nominatio dei in the 1949 German constitution as committing the state to active support of Christian teachings.
When written constitutions became the norm for modern states in the 19th century, several European states carried on the tradition of invoking God in legal documents. This tradition can be traced back to ancient times and the Middle Ages, when gods or God were invoked in contracts to guarantee agreements. Formulas such as "In the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" were used at the beginning of legal documents to emphasize fairness and justice. Treaties between Christian nations also customarily began with an invocation of God until the late 19th century.
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God in other countries' constitutions
The inclusion of God in a country's constitution is often attributed to a variety of purposes, such as legitimizing the state and its power by associating it with the will of God. In some cases, it may also serve a historical function, perpetuating the tradition of invoking God in older constitutions and emphasizing the fairness and justness of the norms established.
Several countries have references to God in their constitutions. For example, the constitutions of many U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and many others, make explicit references to God, with some even prohibiting non-believers from holding public office. Interestingly, the federal constitution does not explicitly mention God, but it does use the phrase ""the year of our Lord" in Article VII.
In Europe, countries like Poland and Ukraine include a "nominatio dei" in their constitutional preambles. On the other hand, countries like Norway, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain have constitutions that do not mention God. When Eastern European and Asian nations gained independence and adopted new constitutions in the 1990s, they took diverse approaches, with some, like Estonia and Croatia, emphasizing secular values, while others, like Russia, added references to God in subsequent amendments.
Outside of Europe and North America, there is limited information on specific countries, but it appears that some Islamic countries include references to God in their constitutions, continuing a tradition of "invocationes dei." Canada's Constitution Act, adopted in 1867 and amended in 1982, includes a reference to God, while the Australian Constitution does not explicitly mention God, but the enabling legislation, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, does.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God or the divine.
Yes, the word "religion" is mentioned twice in the US Constitution. Article 6 exempts government office holders from a religious test, and the First Amendment also mentions religion.
Yes, God or the divine is mentioned in every state constitution in the US. There are 116 mentions of God, 14 mentions of a Supreme or Sovereign Being, seven mentions of "Creator", and three mentions of "providence".
The US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. This was likely done to avoid establishing Christianity as America's official religion. The Constitution is religion-friendly and gives maximum freedom to all religions to exist and flourish.
Yes, several countries in Europe and Islamic nations have references to God in their constitutions. For example, the constitutions of Ireland and Canada mention God.
