By now you have all heard what Barack Obama said at a press conference while on his visit to Turkey: "One of the great strengths of the United States," the President said, "is ... we have a very large Christian population -- we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."I don't really know what he meant by that, but I do know that I personally disagree with the statement about being a nation of "ideals." One of many dictionary entries that define the word "ideal" states, "something that exists only in the imagination; existing only in the imagination; not real or actual." As a conservative and hobby-historian, this does not wring true to me. Our Founding Fathers were very deliberate in contemplating what this nation would be about, and they very deliberately acknowledged a divine Creator as what bound us together. This divine Creator offered them guidance, strength and order. With their beliefs, documents were written for a nation that was religious in devotion to that Creator.
In the debates the Framers had during the Constitutional Convention,
Benjamin Franklin said on 28 June 1781, "...the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this truth - that God governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without his aid?"The Framers were careful to make sure that religious freedom was of the utmost importance concerning the rights of citizens. Hence, the very first words in the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. But, in my own interpretation, I'm not certain that they meant for citizens to have either NO religion or have an offensive and rebellious regard for it. In fact, the widely used "separation of church and state" is not part of any founding document but instead from correspondence regarding a discussion on the limit of powers in this new central government over the sovereign colonies. The federal government was to separate ITSELF from being involved in church(es) and (their) states, not separate (exlude) the church from the states.
Another Founding Gentleman, Benjamin Rush of Pennsylvania wrote on 19 March 1783, "Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind."Getting back to the statement of being a "nation of ideals." If we as a nation do not acknowledge our Creator, our Higher Power, our "Entity Greater than Ourselves" for a solid religion in grounding and guidance, what kind of nation are we? A nation of "People Who Make Stuff Up"? A "People Who Do What is Popular Right Now"? A "People Who Do Whatever is Right in Thier Own Eyes?" If we are not a Christian, Jewish, or Muslim nation, then we are a nation without religion. Without religion, then we are indeed a nation of ideals.
Our 50 United States have all recognized a Divine Creator God in each of their constitutional documents, the majority of which are in their Preambles. Take a look:
Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..
Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...
Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy...
Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences...
Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the St ate of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..
Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings........
Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work
Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this ConstitutionMontana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for theblessings of liberty establish this Constitution ...
Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..
New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...
North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance....
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble.. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ....
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility....
Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution....
Amen.
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I found your blog via twitter. I really like your thought process! Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteWhile we may make too much of labeling of this sort, it is important at least to distinguish government from society. Certainly, at the time of the founding of our government and yet today (even if to a lesser extent), America is a Christian nation in the sense that Christianity is a dominant religious influence in society. Just as certainly, America is a secular nation in the sense that our government is established by the people and predicated on the power of the people (and not any diety), as is clear from the Constitution which says nothing substantive of god or religion except in the First Amendment where the point is to confirm that each person enjoys religious liberty and that the government is not to do anything to establish religion and another provision precluding any religious test for public office.
ReplyDeleteTo be sure, as you have observed, some of those who drafted the founding documents professed their belief in a god, some specifically the Christian god. Others among the drafters did not profess, or denied, any such belief. In any event, they drafted documents plainly founding the government on the power of the people (not a deity).
Lest there be any doubt, shortly after the founding, President George Washington (a founder) drafted and President John Adams (a founder) signed, with the unanimous consent of the Senate (comprised in large measure of founders), the Treaty of Tripoli declaring, in pertinent part, “the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”
As for the several state governments, realize that the First Amendment constrained only the federal government until the 14th Amendment was adopted and ultimately interpreted by the courts to, in effect, extend the First Amendment's constraints to states as well. Even so, state constitutions remain littered with provisions of dubious validity today. For instance, the constitutions of seven states--Arkansas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas--contain provisions that ostensibly prohibit atheists from holding public office or testifying in court.