Simone Lawson
The US Constitution does not make any reference to God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. Instead, it focuses on establishing freedom of religion and a separation of church and state. This is in contrast to the Declaration of Independence, which mentions God four times and states that people's rights are God-given. The Founding Fathers of the United States were influenced by Enlightenment philosophy, and the Constitution reflects the religious diversity of 18th-century America, where religion was viewed as a matter of individual choice. While the US Constitution does not mention God, it does use the formula the year of our Lord, and some state constitutions do include references to God or a Supreme Being.
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's secular objects
The US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. Instead, it establishes the freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. The Founding Fathers' religion was not always clear, and Deism was popular at the time. The Constitution's secular nature is in contrast to the Declaration, which invokes God.
The lack of reference to God in the US Constitution is also in contrast to many state constitutions, which mention God or the divine. All state constitutions contain an affirmation of popular sovereignty. The constitutions of California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, Washington, and Puerto Rico, make a reference to God. They generally use an invocation of "God the Almighty" or the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe".
The US Constitution's secular nature is also in contrast to the constitutions of some other countries, which mention God or the divine in their founding documents. For example, the Preamble to the Constitution of Ireland cites God and Jesus, and this has been used in Supreme Court rulings. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms also mentions God, although this has had less of an impact on court rulings.
The secular nature of the US Constitution can be attributed to the Founding Fathers' intent to create a government answerable to the people, rather than a theocracy. This is in line with the notion of unalienable rights, which are protected by the Constitution. The Founding Fathers may have also been influenced by the Enlightenment, which emphasized the importance of reason and science over religion.
The US Constitution's secular nature is significant because it allows for religious freedom and the separation of church and state. It also ensures that the government is answerable to the people, rather than a religious authority.
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Religious diversity in 18th-century America
The United States Constitution does not include any reference to God, unlike the Declaration of Independence. This is because the Constitution is a secular document drafted as a blueprint for a stable and effective republican government in a free country. Eighteenth-century America was a religiously diverse nation, and religion was viewed as a matter of individual choice. The Constitution acknowledged this diversity and took no position on theological issues, promoting no particular sect.
The religious landscape of 18th-century America was vibrant and varied. While the traditional religions of the colonies, such as Puritanism in New England and Anglicanism in the south, struggled to maintain their influence due to the westward expansion of the frontier, religion overall was in a state of "ascension rather than declension." This period saw the emergence of the Great Awakening, a religious revival movement that swept across the colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. The Great Awakening signaled the rise of evangelicalism, with a focus on the "'new birth'" and a personal relationship with God. It energized and divided churches, with supporters including Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists, and opponents including Anglicans, Quakers, and Congregationalists.
The growth of the American church in the 18th century is evident in the changing city skylines, with a notable increase in the number of churches. This growth was fueled by itinerant preachers during the First Great Awakening, such as John Wesley and George Whitefield, who attracted large audiences in cities and remote frontier villages alike. The evangelical sects surged in size and influence, and by the time of the American Revolution, up to 80% of the population identified with these new faiths.
The ideas of political philosopher John Locke were also influential during this period. His writings on toleration and the "reasonableness" of Christianity resonated with many Americans contending against theories of religious uniformity. Locke's work, along with that of English deist Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson, who was deeply skeptical of organized religion.
In summary, 18th-century America was a religiously diverse nation with a range of faiths and beliefs. The absence of a reference to God in the Constitution reflects the recognition of this diversity and the intention to create a secular governing document that promoted religious freedom and took no position on theological issues.
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The Founding Fathers' intent
The absence of religious references in the Constitution is intentional and significant. While the Declaration of Independence mentions God and asserts God-given rights, the Founding Fathers deliberately chose not to include similar language in the Constitution. They wanted to create a secular document that would apply to a religiously diverse nation. By the time of the American Revolution, religion was widely viewed as a matter of individual choice, and the Founding Fathers wanted to ensure that the government would not favor any particular sect or theological position.
The First Amendment to the Constitution, which protects the free exercise of religion and prohibits the government from establishing an official religion, further underscores the Founding Fathers' intent to keep church and state separate. This amendment, often referred to as the "wall of separation between church and state," was influenced by the beliefs of Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson, who advocated for religious liberty and the absence of religious tests for public office.
While the US Constitution itself does not mention God, it does use the phrase "the year of our Lord" in Article VII, which was a common way of referring to years during that time period. Additionally, it is important to note that some state constitutions do include references to God and religious tests for public office, which has led to debates about the role of religion in government and the interpretation of the Founding Fathers' intentions.
In conclusion, the Founding Fathers' intent in omitting God from the US Constitution was to create a secular framework that protected religious freedom and separated church and state. They recognized the potential pitfalls of mixing religion and government and sought to establish a nation where individuals were free to practice their religious beliefs without governmental interference or favoritism.
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The Constitution's promotion of freedom of religion
The United States Constitution does not include any references to God. Instead, the Preamble outlines wholly secular objectives: "to form a perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty."
The Founding Fathers of the United States deliberately chose not to include any mention of God in the Constitution. This was because, by the time of the Revolution, religion was widely viewed as a matter of individual choice. The Constitution acknowledges this by promoting no sect and taking no position on theological issues.
The First Amendment to the Constitution explicitly protects religious freedom via the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any laws "respecting an establishment of religion". The Free Exercise Clause protects citizens' right to practice their religion as they please, as long as it does not conflict with "public morals" or a "compelling" government interest.
The Supreme Court has interpreted the First Amendment as requiring that government assistance to religion must have a secular primary purpose, neither promote nor inhibit religion, and avoid excessive entanglement between church and state. These interpretations ensure that the government does not promote or burden any particular religion, thus promoting freedom of religion.
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The Constitution's influence on America's diversity
The United States Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, has had a profound influence on the country's diversity. It laid the groundwork for a new form of governance, emphasizing individual liberties and equality under the law. The Constitution's commitment to these principles has been a cornerstone of American identity and a beacon of hope for immigrants and diverse groups worldwide.
The Constitution's naturalization process, outlined in Article I, Section 8, allowed immigrants to integrate into American society while maintaining their cultural identities. This, along with the broad principles of the Constitution, influenced national immigration policies and shaped what it means to be American. The Constitution implicitly gave Congress the authority to regulate immigration, and subsequent legislative actions, such as the Immigration Act, further defined these boundaries.
The First Amendment guarantees freedoms that enable cultural and religious diversity, ensuring that people of various backgrounds can practice their beliefs while assimilating into American society. The abolition of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and more recent struggles for equality demonstrate how the Constitution has expanded civil liberties and shaped the American ethos. Landmark Supreme Court cases, such as Brown v. Board of Education and Obergefell v. Hodges, have ended racial segregation in public schools and guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage, respectively, reflecting the Constitution's influence on civil rights and social progress.
The Constitution's impact on diversity extends beyond America's borders. It has inspired political reform and influenced the development of democratic governments worldwide, including in Latin America, the Philippines, China, and former European colonies. Advocates for reform, such as Jose Rizal of the Philippines and Sun Yat-sen of China, drew upon the Constitution's principles of liberty and self-government in their calls for change.
The Founding Fathers' decision to omit religious references in the Constitution also contributed to America's diversity. By not endorsing any particular sect or theological position, the Constitution acknowledged the religious diversity of 18th-century America and ensured that religious choice remained a matter of individual freedom. This secular approach, combined with the guarantees of liberty and equality, has fostered an environment where people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs can coexist and contribute to America's unique societal fabric.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. Instead, it establishes freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. The Founding Fathers witnessed the Christian governments of Europe take advantage of their citizens' individual freedoms and the internal bickering and wars among Christian factions. The Constitution is a blueprint for a stable and effective republican government in a free country.
The absence of God in the US Constitution reflects the religious diversity of eighteenth-century America and the view that religion was a matter of voluntary individual choice. The Constitution takes no position on theological issues and does not promote any particular sect. It acknowledges the inherent limitations of human law and power and respects individual freedom of conscience.
While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention God, it uses the formula "the year of our Lord" in Article VII. In contrast, many state constitutions in the US and constitutions of other countries do contain explicit references to God. For example, the constitutions of 34 US states refer to God more than once, and countries with constitutional traditions that reflect the strong position of established churches, such as European countries and Islamic countries, often include invocations or nominations of God.
