“I know no way of judging the future but by the past” so said Patrick Henry.

The History News Network published an article saying that according to the founders, America was NOT a Christian nation. The AP also published an article saying that under article VI of the Constitution, it claims that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to run for any office. Here is my question, are both of those articles truthful? If you say no, you would be correct. Let’s dive into this.

In its 2,000 years of Christianity there have been 3 distinct time periods. 

The first 300 years would be called the period of purity. That's where people took the Scriptures literally and did exactly what Christ had taught.

The next 1200 years, starting from about 350 A.D. there is a period of apostasy. This started when the Roman emperor, Constantine, proclaimed Christianity as the official religion of the land. A king can proclaim that, but it didn’t change hearts. Pagan temples and Jewish synagogues were turned into Christian churches overnight – but by name only. This was not a good thing for true Christian worship.

After that period of apostasy, we headed into the last 500 years which is the period of reformation. This is when the church decided it was time to do away with traditions and time to get back to what Christ taught. Many believe it was men like John Calvin and Martin Luther who were the driving force behind the Reformation period which started in the 1500’s. BUT in truth, the Reformation period started 200 years before. Starting back as early as the 1300’s men in England, Switzerland, Netherlands and France started to rise up and say we need people to read the Word of God again. This was a couple of centuries before Luther was on the scene.

The Reformation is a movement of returning to purity. 

As America celebrates its birthday this week most know the history of the present-day United States began in 1607 with the establishment of Jamestown. By the 1760’s we had the 13 colonies. From 1625 to1776, the colonial population grew from 2 thousand to 2.4 million; it was then that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Declaration is usually considered the event that marked the birth of America.

So here is the question – was and is America a Christian nation. I think that is 2 separate questions. Was America a Christian nation? Yes. Is America a Christian nation? No, not any longer.

To look at the evidence showing that America was a Christian nation, I am not going to rely on quotes from the founding fathers. Why not? Because I have no desire to debate people as to whether so and so was a deist or a theist or a pantheist. I would only like to rely on actual documents, mostly from the original constitution of the first states.

I do want to look at some official congressional records from our thirty second, thirty third and thirty fourth president. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our 32nd president, served from 1933 to1945. According to recorded records, time after time he called America a Christian nation in official addresses.

President Harry Truman, our 33rd president, served from 1945 to 1953. According to recorded congressional records, time after time he called America a Christian nation in official addresses.

President Dwight D Eisenhower, our 34th president served from1953 to1961. According to recorded congressional records, time after time he called America a Christian nation in official addresses. Interestingly, Eisenhower is the only president to have been baptized while in office. 

Eisenhower believed faith was the single most important distinction between American freedom and Communism.

On Sunday, February 7, 1954, Eisenhower gave a radio address that emphasized the importance of Godliness and spirituality in American history. “Out of faith in God, and through faith in themselves as His children, our forefathers designed and built the Republic.” The president then gave a brief civics lesson that recalled the struggles of the Pilgrims, the testing of George Washington’s faith at Valley Forge, and the faith battles of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. He said, “All of these men shared a steadfast belief in God.”

Let’s look at some early state constitutions. Many early state constitutions included God and Christianity.
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​• Massachusetts Constitution (1780): Required officials to declare belief in the Christian religion.

• Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges (1701): Promoted religious liberty but assumed a Christian framework.

• Connecticut (early constitution): Referred to the "Holy Bible" as a legal authority.

The Moral Influence of Christianity

Christian sermons played a role in supporting the American Revolution. The Black Robe Regiment refers to clergy during the American Revolution who supported independence from Britain. The term was used by the British as a backhanded reference to the black robes worn by these clergy members, who were blamed for promoting the revolutionary cause.

In 2015 the University of Houston finished a ten-year study on what or who were influential on the founding fathers. They gathered personal journals, personal letters, official documents, everything they could find from our founding fathers. Donald S. Lutz, professor of political theory at the University of Houston, and his research assistant Charles Hyneman, examined 15,000 documents of the 55 men who wrote the U.S. Constitution. At the end of their 10-year investigation, they reported that 34 percent of direct quotes of the Founders came from the Bible, 8.3 percent from the French philosopher Montesquieu, 7.9 percent from English jurist William Blackstone, and 2.9 percent from English philosopher John Locke.

The biblical influence on these men is evident in our constitution. For example: In the Constitution:

• The three branches of government — judicial, legislative and executive are based on Isaiah 33:22

• In Articles I, II and III the Founding Fathers sought the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. The understanding that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” This is based on Jeremiah 17:9

• Article 1, section 8 is a welcome extended to immigrants = they felt this was mandated by Leviticus 19:34.

• Article II, section 1, the nation’s leader (the President) must be a natural-born citizen. That is Deuteronomy 17:15

• Article III, section 3 of the Constitution says, no one may be executed by the testimony of only one witness. This is from Deuteronomy 17:6.

• Article I, Sections 9 and 10 states the charge of a felony or treason carries the loss of their civil rights, which can also include the family members who were aware of the treason. This is based on Ezekiel 18:20.

• The tax-free status of churches is from Ezra 7:24.

• Article IV, Section 4 guarantees the right of representative government in all states. This establishes a republican form of government. This was taken from Exodus 18:21, where Moses instructed the Israelites to select their leaders (“Men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain”) from all the people for all levels of governance.

Original State Constitutions

Massachusetts Constitution (1780) Drafted by John Adams.

“It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe.” — Part I, Article II

“The legislature shall... require... the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality.” — Part II, Chapter V, Section I

• Public support for Protestantism was embedded in law.
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​New Hampshire Constitution (1784)

“Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.” — Bill of Rights, Article 5

“No person shall be capable of being elected... who is not of the Protestant religion.” — Part II, Article 14 (repealed in later revisions)

Connecticut (Fundamental Orders of 1639 & later charter)

Connecticut operated under a document grounded in Biblical principles: 
“...enter into a combination and confederation together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus...”

— Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639)

Delaware Constitution (1776)

Required all public officials to take this oath: 
“I do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost... and acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.”

Maryland Constitution (1776)

“No other test or qualification ought to be required... than such oath of support and fidelity to this State... and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion.”

South Carolina Constitution (1778)

“The Christian Protestant religion shall be deemed... the established religion of this State.”

In Summary
Massachusetts - Strong Protestant language. Supported public Protestant worship – Had to pass a Christian religious test to run for office

New Hampshire - Protestant beliefs and morals – Had to pass a Christian religious test to run for office

Delaware - Required belief in Trinity and Bible - Had to pass a Christian religious test to run for office

Maryland - Required belief in Christianity – Had to pass a Christian religious test to run for office

South Carolina - Protestantism was an official religion - Had to pass a Christian religious test to run for office

Connecticut – Laws were based on Biblical law - Had to pass a Christian religious test to run for office

Timeline: State Removal of Religious Tests
After a couple of centuries – laws were called into question & changed

Delaware - 1776 Constitution required belief in Christianity and the Bible
• Removed/Overturned U.S. Supreme Court in 1961

Maryland - 1776 Constitution required belief in Christianity
• Removed/Overturned U.S. Supreme Court in 1961

Massachusetts 1780 Constitution favored Protestantism.
• Removed 103 years later in 1833

New Hampshire - 1784 Constitution required Protestantism for office.
• Removed 93 years later in 1877

North Carolina - 1776 Constitution required belief in God and Protestant religion.
• Removed 59 years later in 1835

Tennessee - 1796 Constitution required belief in God and future judgment
• Still on the books today but unenforceable

Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Pennsylvania - Various 1800s constitutions required belief in God
• Still in constitutions, but unenforceable after 1961

What happened in 1961? A lawsuit, Torcaso v. Watkins
• The case involved Roy Torcaso, an atheist denied a position as a notary public in Maryland.
• The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states cannot require religious belief as a qualification for public office.

Summary
• In the late 1700s and early 1800s, most states had religious tests to run for public office
• By 1961, all religious tests were rendered unenforceable by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here is the big question, WHY did the Supreme Court rule that states cannot require religious belief as a qualification for public office?

The court decided that there are four different theological versions of the Ten Commandments. They said there is
• a Catholic version
• a Jewish version
• a Protestant version
• a Lutheran version

The court said the difference, the only difference between the four so called versions is what order the commandments are numbered. The Jewish commandment was in one order while the Catholic commandments were arranged in a different order. The text is exactly the same – the court decided that because they said there are 4 versions, none of them can take priority over the other so they overruled the Ten commandments and began making decisions such as taking prayer out of public school. Since 1961 Supreme court decisions have been based on the court interpreting the Ten Commandments in four different ways!

Since 1961
Rise in Crime from 1960’s to 1990’s
• 1961 violent crime rate was 158 per 100,000.
• By 1980, it reached 597 per 100k,
• In 1991 it was at ~758 per 100k—more than a 4× increase from the early ’60s

Hard Drug Use
• drug use peaked in the late 1970s, rose again in the ’90s
• High school surveys 2008, drug experimentation reached ~47% by 12th grade
• By 2023 it has grown to 62%

Marijuana
• In 1969, ~4% of Americans had ever tried marijuana;
• By 1972, this rose to 12%,
• doubling again by 1977
• In 1992 Daily/near-daily cannabis users was at 1 million
• in 2002 that number rose to 17.7 million
• 2002 was the first time daily cannabis use surpassed daily alcohol use (~14.7M)

Overdose Deaths
• 1968 overdose death rate was: 2.5/100k.
• By 2022, with 112,600 deaths, it rose to 33.7/100k

Bottom Line
Crime, drug use and overdose death all rose dramatically after 1961.

In the 1960s, student discipline in public schools tended to focus on behaviors, disrupted the classroom and challenged authority.

Common Reasons for Discipline in the 1960s:
1. Disobedience
a. Refusing to follow teachers’ instructions was a top cause for disciplinary action.

2. Disruptive Behavior
a. Talking out of turn, interrupting class

3. Being noisy or causing distractions in class or school settings.

4. Fighting and Physical Aggression
a. Physical fights among students were a common reason for suspension
b. corporal punishment (spanking, paddling) was widely used.

5. Truancy and Skipping Classes
a. Skipping school or classes without permission often led to detention.

6. Dress Code Violations
a. Schools enforced strict dress codes, and violating these could result in disciplinary measures.
b. This included improper hairstyles

7. Cheating or Academic Dishonesty
a. Cheating on tests or assignments

8. Minor Offenses
a. Talking back, and disrespect, were harshly disciplined,

Most Common Reasons for Student Discipline Today:
1. Fighting and Physical Aggression
2. Possession or Use of Drugs and Alcohol
3. Possession of Weapons
4. Truancy and Skipping Classes
5. Vandalism and Theft
6. Cheating and Academic Dishonesty

Modern Laws based on the Bible

Many laws are based on principles found in the Ten Commandments

- Laws against murder and homicide - “Thou shalt not kill”

- Laws against theft and robbery - “Thou shalt not steal”

- Laws against perjury and false testimony - “Thou shalt not bear false witness”

- Laws about family, guardianship, child welfare - “Honor thy father and mother”

- Laws regarding adultery (historically criminalized in many states) - “Thou shalt not commit adultery”

Sabbath Laws

• Historically, some U.S. states and European countries had “blue laws” restricting activities on Sundays, based on the biblical Sabbath.
• These laws banned things like selling alcohol or working on Sunday.

Laws on Charity and Justice

• Biblical commands to help the poor and promote justice influenced the development of laws regarding charity, social welfare, and fairness in trade.
• Early colonial laws reflected these values by requiring community support for the needy.

Summary:

• Biblical principles shaped Western legal tradition, but modern laws are secular and based on reason, social needs

Blackstone’s Law

Blackstone’s Law is a collection of legal principles and explanations found in Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England. These Commentaries, published between 1765 and 1769 they systematically summarized common law in a clear, organized way.

• Blackstone’s Commentaries became the foundational text for understanding and teaching common law.
• Influence on U.S. Law: The Commentaries greatly influenced American law, especially during the founding era. The U.S. Constitution and early legal thinkers referenced Blackstone’s work.
• Key Legal Concepts: Blackstone helped clarify ideas about rights, property, crime, and government, including the balance between the power of the state and individual rights.

A few specific Blackstone principles still used in U.S. law today:

The Right to Property

• Blackstone’s Idea: Property is a natural right, essential to individual liberty.
• In U.S. Law: The Fifth Amendment protects private property from being taken by the government without “just compensation” (eminent domain).
• Property rights remain a cornerstone of American legal and economic systems.

Presumption of Innocence

• Blackstone’s Idea: It is better that 10 guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer.
• In U.S. Law: This principle underpins the presumption of innocence in criminal law and the burden of proof on the prosecution (“beyond a reasonable doubt”).

Rule of Law

• Blackstone’s Idea: No one is above the law, including kings or rulers.
• In U.S. Law: This concept is fundamental to the Constitution— everyone, including government officials, must obey the law.

Separation of Powers

• In U.S. Law: The Constitution’s structure of separate powers between Congress, the President, and the Courts builds on this principle.

Right to a Fair Trial

• In U.S. Law: Rights such as the right to counsel, speedy trial, and due process are guaranteed by the Constitution (6th and 14th Amendments).

They also covered the Sanctity of Life and Property Rights.

Now back to the original question. Do we have a Godless Constitution? We do now but that is not how it was originally written!



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