Eleanor Finch
While the US Declaration of Independence mentions God, the US Constitution does not. This absence is notable given the influence of Judeo-Christian theology in the US at the time of its writing. Some argue that the concepts the US was founded on, such as equal justice and human rights, freedom from authority, freedom of thought, and freedom of religion, originated in Christianity. However, the US was deliberately not established as a Christian nation, and the states uniformly moved towards a clear separation of church and state. The Irish Constitution also mentions God, which has been described as deeply disturbing by some, though others argue it would not be particularly controversial to remove these references.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for exclusion of God | To reject a religious source of sovereignty |
| God mentioned in Declaration of Independence | Yes |
| God mentioned in Pledge of Allegiance | Yes |
| God mentioned in National Anthem | No |
| God mentioned in the date | Yes |
| Founding fathers Christians | No |
| US a secular country | Yes |
| US a Christian country | No |
| US Constitution based on Bible | No |
| US Constitution influenced by Bible | Yes |
| US Constitution mentions "creator" | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution does not mention God, but the Declaration does
- The US was not established as a Christian nation
- The authors of the Constitution were influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs
- The Constitution protects pre-existing rights, not God-given rights
- The Irish Constitution also mentions God, but few seem to notice
The US Constitution does not mention God, but the Declaration does
The US Constitution does not mention God, but the Declaration of Independence does. The US Constitution is a secular document, with the Establishment Clause in the 1st Amendment explicitly reinforcing this. The United States was founded as a secular country, and the framers of the Constitution used specific language to emphasise that they were rejecting a religious source of sovereignty. For example, the first sentence of the Constitution reads, "We the People of the United States do ordain and establish this Constitution", rather than simply "establish", to differentiate it from the previous system of monarchy, in which the head of state claimed their right to rule through ordination by God.
The Treaty of Tripoli in 1797, ratified by Congress, further affirmed the nation's secular status, stating, "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion". The 1st Amendment also guarantees that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion", ensuring the separation of church and state.
In contrast, the Declaration of Independence, which is not a legal document and has no bearing on the laws of the nation, does mention God. Phrases such as "Nature's God", "Creator", and "Divine Providence" appear in the Declaration. Additionally, Benjamin Franklin, when speaking to a group of Representatives, said, "let us get on our knees and pray to God for guidance". The Declaration's reference to their Creator has been interpreted as a clear reference to the Christian God, suggesting that citizens' rights come from God rather than from people. However, others argue that the term creator is open to interpretation and need not refer specifically to the Christian God.
While the US Constitution does not mention God, it is important to note that it also does not completely exclude the influence of religious principles. Some argue that a small percentage of the principles in the Constitution are influenced by the Bible. However, the Constitution is not based on the Bible, and the absence of any mention of God in the document is a strong indication of the nation's founders' intention to keep religion separate from the state.
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The US was not established as a Christian nation
The United States Constitution makes no mention of God or Jesus in its text. The only reference to religion is to exclude it from government. The First Amendment to the Constitution bans the establishment of a state religion. The Establishment Clause in the First Amendment reinforces the secular nature of the document. The Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by Congress in 1797, explicitly states that "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion".
The US Constitution was created as a secular document, rejecting the previous system of monarchy where the head of state claimed their right to rule through ordination by God. The framers of the Constitution used specific language to emphasise this rejection of a religious source of sovereignty. The word "ordain" in the Constitution's preamble indicates that the power to establish the government comes from the people, not God.
The absence of religious language in the Constitution is significant, especially when compared to other historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence, which mentions a "Creator". However, the Declaration of Independence is not a legal document and has no bearing on the laws of the nation. The Constitution, on the other hand, establishes a secular republic where the legal authority of the government derives from the people, not religion.
While some argue that the Constitution was influenced by biblical principles, the document itself makes no explicit reference to Christianity. The founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, were not Christians, and they intentionally kept religion separate from the state. The separation of church and state protects both the government from religious influence and religion from governmental influence.
In conclusion, the United States was not established as a Christian nation. The Constitution, as the foundational document of the country, was intentionally secular, and the founding fathers took care to ensure the separation of church and state.
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The authors of the Constitution were influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs
The United States Constitution is a secular document that does not mention God. However, it is true that the authors of the Constitution were influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs.
Firstly, it is important to note that the United States was founded as a secular nation. The authors of the Constitution intentionally omitted any mention of God or religion, instead emphasising that the power to establish the Constitution came from the people, not God. This was a deliberate rejection of the previous system of monarchy, in which the monarch claimed the right to rule through their ordination by God. The Establishment Clause in the 1st Amendment further reinforced the secular nature of the Constitution, and the government explicitly stated that the United States was not founded on the Christian religion.
However, it would be inaccurate to claim that the authors of the Constitution were entirely uninfluenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs. While the text of the Constitution itself does not explicitly reference Judeo-Christian values, the broader historical and cultural context in which it was written was shaped by these beliefs. The United States was founded by individuals with a variety of religious beliefs and backgrounds, including Christianity, Deism, Unitarianism, and Judaism. The Declaration of Independence, while not a legal document, does refer to a "Creator" who endows individuals with "inalienable rights," which some interpret as reflecting Judeo-Christian values. Additionally, certain principles in the Constitution, such as the presumption of innocence in the criminal justice system, have been traced back to the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Furthermore, some argue that the Constitution reflects Judeo-Christian values in its structure and underlying philosophy. For example, the idea of rendering "unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" from the Gospel of Matthew can be seen as influencing the secular nature of the Constitution, separating the realms of religion and governance. The matter of slavery, accepted as a normal feature of the social order in both the Old and New Testaments, is another example of how the Constitution may have been influenced by Judeo-Christian values.
In conclusion, while the United States Constitution is a secular document that does not mention God, the authors were likely influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs to some degree. The historical and cultural context of the time, the philosophical underpinnings of certain constitutional principles, and the presence of Judeo-Christian values in founding documents like the Declaration of Independence all point to a complex interplay between religion and the founding of the nation.
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The Constitution protects pre-existing rights, not God-given rights
The United States Constitution is a secular document that does not mention God. The only mention of religion in the Constitution is to exclude it from government. The First Amendment guarantees that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". The Establishment Clause in the First Amendment reinforces the secular nature of the Constitution. The Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by Congress in 1797, also explicitly states that "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion".
The absence of any reference to God in the Constitution is significant because it indicates a rejection of the previous system of government, where the monarch claimed a divine right to rule. The framers of the Constitution used specific language to emphasise that sovereignty was derived from the people and not from God. The first sentence of the Constitution, "We the People of the United States do ordain and establish this Constitution", underscores this intention.
While the Declaration of Independence mentions a "Creator" who endows individuals with certain inalienable rights, it is not a legal document and has no bearing on the laws of the nation. The Constitution, on the other hand, establishes a secular republic where the legal authority of the government is derived from the people, not from any religion or God. The rights protected by the Constitution are therefore pre-existing rights, not God-given rights.
It is worth noting that the separation of church and state does not mean that the government will have nothing to do with religion or faith. Rather, it ensures that the government will not be controlled by any religious institution and that no religion will be favoured or promoted by the state. This separation also protects the sanctity of religion from the influence of government and politics.
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The Irish Constitution also mentions God, but few seem to notice
The Irish Constitution, which came into force on 29 December 1937, does indeed mention God. The document begins with a preamble that invokes the "Most Holy Trinity", stating that "all authority" comes from this entity. Article 6.1 asserts that all powers of government "derive, under God, from the people". Article 44, which focuses on religion, also mentions God, stating:
> The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.
The constitution also includes oaths that refer to God, to be sworn by the President, the Council of State, and the judiciary. The official text of the Constitution ends with the phrase "For the glory of God and the Honour of Ireland".
Despite these overt religious references, the Irish Constitution also includes robust rights protecting the free practice of religion and freedom from religious discrimination, which protect all faiths. For example, the constitution has been used to protect the right to travel outside the state to procure an abortion, at a time when abortion was constitutionally banned.
The prominence of God in the Irish Constitution may not be widely known because the meaning and effect of religious references are not as clear or obvious as one might think. The real story of God in the Irish Constitution is more complicated than one might initially assume.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution does not mention God because the country was not established as a Christian nation. The authors of the Constitution intended to create a government that was free from religious influence and separate from the church.
No. While the word "God" is not mentioned, the concepts the country is based on, such as equal justice, human rights, and freedom of religion, are argued by some to have originated from Christianity.
The Constitution does not explicitly mention God, but it does include the phrase "in the year of our Lord", which was a common way of recording dates at the time.
Yes, there have been moves to alter the preamble to include a reference to Christianity. Additionally, some state constitutions include religious tests and acknowledge God as the source of people's liberties.
Some people are surprised by the absence of God in the Constitution, especially given the influence of Judeo-Christian theology in the US at the time. Others support the separation of church and state and are glad that the Constitution is free from religious influence.
