Independence Day: America’s Original Documents

There is no reference in the United Sates Constitution to God. There is, in the Bill of Rights, the establishment of the right to religious freedom, and the responsibility of the government to have no power or control over any specified religion. Of the 55 representatives who drafted the original constitution at least four were self-proclaimed atheists. The rest came from predominantly Christian, Quaker, and Mennonite backgrounds.

 From perusing these documents, one has to assume that this country consisted predominantly of folks who considered God to be so self-evident that He did not require specific address when writing in a political forum.

The State Constitutions

Perusal of the constitutions of the individual states both upholds this view, and expands upon the generally held belief in God.  These documents were ratified individually by state; the first three being Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia in 1776. In viewing the constitutions with regard to their statements of faith, listed below are the results.

34 of the 50 United States wrote into their preamble that their constitution was written out of their gratefulness to the Almighty God.  Those states are; Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Mew Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

2 more, Alabama and Oklahoma, invoked the favor or guidance of the Almighty God.

1, Georgia, stated their reliance on the Almighty God.

4 states — Colorado, Maine, Missouri, and Washington – give credit to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.

Iowa names the Supreme Being.

Delaware recognizes the natural right of all men to worship their Creator.

Massachusetts names the Great Legislator of the Universe.

4 states say nothing of God in the preamble. However they protect the right of worship elsewhere in their constitutions.  New Hampshire states “Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God….” Oregon states in its bill of rights, “All men shall be secure in the natural right to worship Almighty God….” Tennessee states in its article XI, “That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God….” And Virginia states in its bill of rights, “Religion, or the duty which we owe our Creator, can be directed only by reason and it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other….

1 state, Vermont, acknowledges the right of men to worship the Author of Existence.

Of the 50 states, Hawaii is the only one whose constitution does not give credit to a single deity. In its preamble, it names Divine Guidance.  It is interesting to note that Hawaii was the last state to ratify a constitution, not joining the union until 1959.

Summary

In no document is the name of Jesus Christ mentioned, although He was referred to repeatedly by many of the founding fathers and legendary speakers throughout history.  Indeed, in a later inaugural address, George Washington stated that this form of government would only be successful as long as it was manned and peopled by men of Christian principles.  

Strictly from the documents above, a case could not be made that this nation was founded upon Christian beliefs – except for the state of Virginia. It can be stated, quite clearly, that it was founded upon belief in God.  Indeed, God was considered so natural and self-evident that specific reference to Him was not considered particularly necessary.  That in itself is valid proof of the foundational religious convictions of the founders of this country.