Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution is a practical legal document based on moral, philosophical, and political beliefs, principles, and customs recognized by the American people. Although the Bible or Jesus are not mentioned in the Constitution, some argue that it was influenced by Christianity and the Bible. The Puritan colonial constitutions of Connecticut and Massachusetts, for example, were shaped by religious beliefs and practices inspired by the Bible. These colonial constitutions, in turn, influenced the state constitutions, which then influenced the U.S. Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Whether the US Constitution mentions the Bible or Jesus | No, the US Constitution does not mention the Bible or Jesus |
| Whether the US Constitution is influenced by the Bible | Yes, the US Constitution is influenced by the Bible and Christian values |
| Whether the US Declaration of Independence is influenced by the Bible | Yes, the US Declaration of Independence is influenced by the Bible and Christian values |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is not based on the Bible
The US Constitution is a practical legal document based on long-held moral, philosophical, and political beliefs, principles, and customs recognized and practiced by the American people. While the Bible may have influenced the beliefs and principles of the founding Americans, the US Constitution does not mention the Bible, Jesus, heaven, hell, or any other religious concepts.
The US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus, heaven, hell, or any other religious concepts. The only possible reference to religion in the US Constitution is in Article I, Section 7, which states that no bill can be signed into law on a Sunday. However, this could simply be a practical consideration rather than a religious one.
The founding fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson, did not believe in the divinity of Jesus and removed all parts of the miracles and mysticism from his Bible. Jefferson believed that Jesus was a prophet with a good message. He also removed the Book of Revelation from his Bible. Other founding fathers, such as John Adams, who authored the Treaty of Tripoli, understood the political advantage of being associated with the right church.
The state constitutions, which were drafted from 1776 to 1783, were shaped by the colonial constitutions that preceded them. These colonial constitutions, such as the Puritan constitutions of Connecticut and Massachusetts, were influenced by the Bible. The Puritan constitutions established principles such as the intervention of the people in public affairs, free voting of taxes, responsibility of the agents of power, personal liberty, and trial by jury. These principles were later recognized and established in the laws of New England and had a significant impact on America's modern constitutions.
While the US Constitution is not based on the Bible, it is important to recognize that the founding-era Americans who drafted and ratified it were influenced by their religious beliefs and the Bible. These influences were also shaped by other factors, such as Enlightenment thinkers and the Declaration of Independence, resulting in a secular state with religious freedom.
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The Bible influenced the US Constitution
The US Constitution is a practical legal document that is based on a consensus of long-held moral, philosophical, and political beliefs, principles, and customs recognized and practiced by the American people. While the US Constitution does not directly mention the Bible or Jesus, it was influenced by the Bible in several ways.
Firstly, colonial and state constitutions, the Great Awakening, modern Enlightenment thinkers, and the Declaration of Independence were all philosophical influences on the Constitution. These influences were shaped by a God-oriented worldview based on and/or consistent with the Bible. This worldview was prevalent among colonial and founding-era Americans, as well as the political philosophers they read.
Secondly, the Puritan constitutions of colonial Connecticut and Massachusetts, and the religiously tolerant colonies of Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, were particularly impactful on the state and federal constitutions. Many of these colonies' laws and practices were inspired by and/or defended from the Bible. For example, the Puritan colonial constitutions of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639 and the Massachusetts Body of Liberties of 1641 included important governing principles such as popular sovereignty, consent of the governed, self-government, civil covenants, federalism, rule of law, constitutionalism, and limited government. These principles were later adopted in America's modern state and federal constitutions.
Thirdly, the Bible was the most frequently cited book in the political literature of the American founding era from 1760 to 1805, according to Lutz's research. This indicates that the Bible had a strong moral, philosophical, religious, and political influence on founding-era Americans and their political ideas.
Lastly, the Bible influenced the language, letters, education, and law of the time. As the population was overwhelmingly Protestant, the English Bible, specifically the King James Bible, was a familiar and accessible text that informed significant aspects of public culture.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution does not explicitly mention the Bible or Jesus, it was influenced by the Bible through the philosophical and political influences of the time, the Puritan colonial constitutions, the frequent citation of the Bible in political literature, and its impact on public culture. These influences shaped the governing principles and laws of the US Constitution.
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The Bible's impact on the Founding Fathers
The Bible had a significant impact on the Founding Fathers of the United States, influencing their political thought and the creation of American democracy. The Founding Fathers were well-versed in the Bible, particularly the King James Bible, which was the most accessible and familiar text at the time. They frequently quoted and alluded to biblical passages, indicating their in-depth knowledge of the scripture.
The Bible played a crucial role in shaping the political culture and ideology of the Founding Fathers. They drew on the republican model found in the Hebrew Scriptures, which aligned with their political aspirations. The Bible's ideas and themes influenced their rhetoric and written works, shaping their habits of mind. The Bible was cited more frequently by the Founding Fathers than any European writer or school of thought, including Enlightenment liberalism and republicanism.
The Bible also served as a source of guiding principles for the Founding Fathers. They looked to the Bible for insights on political order, civil authority, civic virtue, and responsible citizenship. The Puritan Fathers, in particular, relied on the Bible to establish governing principles and customs, which laid the groundwork for modern constitutions. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639 and the Massachusetts Body of Liberties of 1641, both Puritan colonial constitutions, incorporated principles such as popular sovereignty, consent of the governed, self-government, and constitutionalism.
While the Founding Fathers were influenced by the Bible, they also had diverse intellectual influences. British constitutionalism, Enlightenment thought, and classical sources also shaped their political thinking. Some of the Founding Fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson, had a more secular outlook, modifying his Bible to remove parts he disagreed with.
In conclusion, the Bible had a significant impact on the Founding Fathers, influencing their political thought, rhetoric, and the creation of American democracy. However, it was one of several influences that contributed to their ideological foundation.
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The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution
The Declaration of Independence mentions God and proclaims that "all men are created equal" and are entitled to the rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." However, the US Constitution does not specifically mention either the Bible or Jesus. The only reference to religion in the Constitution is the phrase "the Year of our Lord" before its signatures.
While the Constitution does not directly mention the Bible, it does express sensitivity to biblical convictions. For example, it permits presidents to swear or affirm their oaths, and it excludes Sundays, the Christian day of rest, from the ten-day time limit for a presidential veto of a law. The Preamble of the Constitution, like the biblical prophets, mentions the need to establish justice, and the first three articles ensure that no person or institution has absolute power. The Constitution also recognises the human need for law and order and establishes itself as a source of higher law, superior to all other laws created by humans.
The First Amendment to the Constitution provides for the "free exercise" of religion, allowing Americans broad freedom to engage in religious activities that do not harm others. This amendment also includes corresponding rights to freedom of speech, the press, peaceable assembly, and petition, allowing individuals to pursue their understandings of the Bible or other holy books. While the US Constitution is a secular document, it has provided protections for the religious sensibilities of citizens, as reflected in the pledge to the flag, which includes the words "under God," and the national motto, "In God We Trust."
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God in the Declaration but not the Constitution
The United States Constitution is a practical legal document based on moral, philosophical, and political beliefs, principles, and customs recognized and practiced by the American people. The colonial constitutions and laws became a precedent through which the state and federal constitutions derived long-held American, Bible-inspired governing principles and customs. The Puritan constitutions of colonial Connecticut and Massachusetts, and the religiously tolerant colonies of Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, were particularly influential on the state and federal constitutions. Many of these colonies' laws and practices were inspired by and/or defended from the Bible.
The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, invokes a Supreme Being several times. The Founding Fathers expressed the idea that the people have God-given rights and that a form of government that becomes tyrannical can be altered or abolished. 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 absence of explicit references to God in the U.S. Constitution may be attributed to the different religious backgrounds of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 compared to the delegates of the Continental Congress. The beliefs and intentions of the Founding Fathers have been a subject of debate, with some arguing that they were conventional Christians, while others claim they were not strongly religious.
While the U.S. Constitution does not directly mention God, it uses the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. Additionally, the influence of Christianity and the Bible on the founding-era Americans who drafted and ratified the Constitution cannot be overlooked.
In summary, the Declaration of Independence invokes God to emphasize the divine origin of people's liberty, while the U.S. Constitution, influenced by Bible-inspired colonial constitutions, omits explicit references to God but retains certain values and principles shaped by a God-oriented worldview.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Bible is not mentioned in the US Constitution. However, it is believed that the Bible was a strong influence on the founding-era Americans who drafted and ratified the Constitution.
No, Jesus is not mentioned in the US Constitution. However, the Constitution does mention that no bill can be signed into law on a Sunday, which may be a reference to doing God's work.
The US Constitution does not contain any explicit religious references. However, it recognises God as the source of the people's liberties and invokes His favour and guidance.
The US Constitution is based on a consensus of long-held moral, philosophical, and political beliefs, principles, and customs recognised by the American people. Many of these beliefs and principles are shaped by a God-oriented worldview based on and/or consistent with the Bible.
Some similarities between the US Constitution and the Bible include concepts such as collecting taxes, having a common currency, helping each other, defending ourselves, and majority rule.
