Simone Lawson
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the two key founding documents in American history. The former mentions God four times, while the latter contains no reference to God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. This may seem odd, given that the authors of the Declaration invoked a Supreme Being several times, and the Constitution is predicated on the Declaration. However, the Constitution's purpose is to explain how the nation functions, and it is committed to establishing freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. The omission of any mention of God may be attributed to the diverse religious beliefs of the founding fathers, the influence of Enlightenment philosophy, and the desire to protect religious freedom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Declaration of Independence mentions God four times and says that people's rights come from the Creator | The belief in a deity was likely universal among the delegates to both the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention |
| The US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity | The US Constitution bends over backwards to establish freedom of religion and the separation of church and state |
| The authors of the Constitution mention God and that Jesus is God in the ratification clause | The authors of the Constitution were members in good standing of Trinitarian churches |
| The state constitutions restate the assertions made in the Declaration about the divine origin of the people's liberty | The state constitutions combine the guiding principles of the Declaration and the US Constitution in a single document |
| References to God in legal texts are called invocatio dei | References to God in another context are called nominatio dei |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration invokes God to legitimise state power
The Declaration of Independence mentions God four times, and states that people's rights come from the Creator. The Declaration invokes God to legitimise state power, with the references to God in the state constitutions restating the assertions made in the Declaration about the divine origin of the people's liberty.
The Declaration's mention of God serves to legitimise governmental power by declaring it to be exercised according to God's will, rather than, or in addition to, the will of the people. This notion of invocatio dei, or 'invocation of God', is a long-standing tradition in European legal history, where God is invoked in legal documents to emphasise their fairness and justness.
The Declaration's invocation of God reflects the religious beliefs of its authors, who held a sincere and likely universal belief in a deity. The authors of the Declaration may have sincerely believed that their rights were endowed by a Creator, as reflected in the document's text.
Furthermore, the Declaration's references to God have been carried over to state constitutions, which often include similar assertions about the divine origin of liberty. These references to God in state constitutions largely imitate those found in the Declaration, combining the guiding principles of both the Declaration and the United States Constitution.
While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, it does use the formula "the Year of Our Lord" in Article VII, and its authors were influenced by religious thinkers such as John Locke and Sir William Blackstone. The Constitution is predicated on the Declaration, and many of its authors were members of Trinitarian churches, indicating a religious influence on the nation's founding documents.
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The Constitution upholds religious neutrality
The United States Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. Instead, it upholds religious neutrality and establishes the freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. The omission of any reference to God or a higher power in the Constitution may be attributed to the intention of the drafters to create a secular document that does not favour any particular religion. This is in contrast to the Declaration of Independence, which invokes a Supreme Being and asserts that rights come from the Creator.
The absence of religious references in the Constitution is notable, especially when compared to other documents and traditions. Treaties between Christian nations, for instance, traditionally began with an invocation of God until the late 19th century. Additionally, several European constitutions carry on the tradition of including invocations or nominations of God, reflecting the influence of established churches and the custom of invoking God in legal documents. However, some countries, such as Norway, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, have constitutions that do not mention God, preserving a neutral stance on religion.
The United States Constitution takes a similar approach to religious neutrality. While it does not mention God directly, it guarantees that religion can never be a requirement for holding public office. This is evident in the statement, "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." This provision ensures that individuals are not excluded from public service based on their religious beliefs or lack thereof, promoting a secular and inclusive government.
The Constitution's commitment to religious neutrality is further demonstrated by the removal of religious restrictions on voting and the abolition of religious tests for holding public office. By the end of 1790, freedom of conscience was guaranteed in every state, and religious tests were abolished in Georgia, Delaware, and Vermont. Additionally, the Supreme Court ruled in 1961 that constitutional provisions disqualifying individuals who deny the existence of God from holding office violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. These actions reinforce the Constitution's stance on religious neutrality and equality before the law, regardless of religious beliefs.
While the Constitution itself does not mention God, it is important to note that the founding fathers held diverse religious beliefs, and some were members of Trinitarian churches. Additionally, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers, emphasised the importance of seeking God's help during challenging times. However, the Constitution's omission of religious references reflects the drafters' intention to create a secular framework that protects religious freedom and ensures that the government remains neutral on religious matters.
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The Declaration's authors were religious
The Declaration of Independence mentions God four times and asserts that people's liberty is of divine origin and that their rights come from the Creator. The Declaration's authors, therefore, believed in a deity and were sincere in their religious convictions.
The founding fathers' religious beliefs varied, with some being conventional Christians, some being non-religious, and others subscribing to Deism—the belief in God as the creator of all things, but not as a miracle worker or answerer to prayers. Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration, leaned towards Deism, going so far as to cut out parts of his Bible that mentioned miracles or were "contrary to reason."
The Continental Congress delegates who drafted the Declaration were likely a more religious group than the Constitutional Convention delegates, as evidenced by their explicit invocation of God in the Declaration. The Declaration's references to God were likely an attempt to garner support for their cause by appealing to the religious beliefs of the people they represented.
While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity, it does contain the phrase "the year of our Lord" in its ratification clause. Additionally, the Constitution is predicated on the Declaration, which does mention God. Furthermore, many of the founding fathers were members of Trinitarian churches, and Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers, advocated for seeking God's help during a speech at the Constitutional Convention.
In summary, the authors of the Declaration were religious, and their beliefs influenced the content of the document. The founding fathers' religious beliefs varied, but they ultimately sought to protect religious freedom and separate church and state, as evidenced by the absence of specific religious references in the Constitution.
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The Constitution's authors were less religious
The authors of the US Constitution may have been less religious than the authors of the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution makes no mention of God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. Instead, it establishes freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.
The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, mentions God four times, and asserts that people's liberty and rights come from the Creator. The state constitutions also restate these assertions, transferring them from one founding document to another.
However, it is important to note that the founding fathers' religious beliefs were complex and varied. Some founding fathers were conventional Christians, while others were not. Deism was also popular at the time, which is the belief in God as the creator of all things, but not as a miracle worker or a responder to prayers. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, aligned more with Deism than Christianity, and was more interested in protecting religious freedom than imposing religion.
Additionally, only six individuals signed both the Declaration and the Constitution, so it is possible that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were a less religious group than those who attended the Continental Congress. However, this hypothesis is difficult to prove. Benjamin Franklin, for example, was one of the least religious of the founding fathers, yet he asked his fellow delegates to pray for divine help during the Constitutional Convention.
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The Declaration and Constitution are founded on unalienable rights
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the two key founding documents in American history. The Declaration, which mentions God four times, explains why the US exists as a nation, while the Constitution explains how the nation functions. The Declaration invokes a Supreme Being to explain the divine origin of the people's liberty, while the Constitution does not mention a higher power, instead focusing on the will of the people.
The Declaration and the Constitution are founded on the notion of unalienable rights. The Declaration states that these rights are endowed by a Creator, while the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. The Constitution also ensures that religion can never be a requirement for holding public office. This commitment to religious freedom is further evidenced by the removal of religious restrictions on voting and the abolition of religious tests for public office.
The absence of God in the Constitution does not indicate a lack of religious belief among its drafters. In fact, many of the men who drafted the Constitution were members of Trinitarian churches, and some were even presidents and founders of Bible societies. Benjamin Franklin, for example, appealed to the other drafters to seek God's help during the Constitutional Convention. However, the drafters of the Constitution may have chosen not to mention God in order to preserve the state's religious neutrality and avoid establishing a state religion.
The state constitutions of nearly all US states reference God or the divine, reflecting the influence of the Declaration. These state constitutions combine the guiding principles of both the Declaration and the Constitution, asserting popular sovereignty and protecting religious liberty. The references to God in the state constitutions reinforce the notion that the country is founded on unalienable rights, with government answerable to the people.
In conclusion, while the Declaration and the Constitution differ in their explicit references to God, both documents are founded on the principle of unalienable rights. The Declaration sees these rights as endowed by a Creator, while the Constitution establishes the freedom to exercise these rights regardless of religious belief. The Constitution's focus on the will of the people and its protection of religious freedom demonstrate its commitment to upholding the unalienable rights of all citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
The Declaration of Independence contains four mentions of God, each of which demonstrates the founders' understanding of God's power and their belief that the power to establish a nation was given to them by God.
Unlike the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution contains no reference to God. Instead, it establishes a secular republic under Enlightenment values.
In the Declaration of Independence, God is referred to as the "Creator" who endows humans with certain "unalienable rights". The document also acknowledges God as the maker and protector of nature.
The Founding Fathers, many of whom were devout believers, wanted to demonstrate their understanding of God's nature and power. They also believed in religious liberty and wanted to keep the government free from religion, rather than religion free from government.
While the Founding Fathers acknowledged God and many worshipped Him, today, many Americans deny or resist the existence of God.
