This morning, I came across a column discussing an issue about which those on the left like to distort the facts. Under the headline, Separation of church and state not in Constitution, Jeff Harris dissects the issue thoroughly and convincingly.
Anyone — especially those affiliated with Barry Lynn’s Americans for Separation of Church and State — who reads the column and continues to debate the issue is, I’m convinced, devoted more to the sport of argument than to fact-based discourse. For them, I offer further evidence, separate from the founding documents of the United States, that this country was established upon Christian principles by people who feared the Almighty God of the Christian Bible.
Listed below are references made to God in the constitutions of the 50 United States:
Alabama 1901, Preamble — WE, The People of the State of Alabama…invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God…
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…
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…
Delaware 1897, Preamble — Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885, Preamble — We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God…
Georgia 1777, Preamble — …we, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God…
Hawaii 1959, Preamble — We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance…
Idaho 1889, Preamble — We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God…
Illinois (as amended in 1970), Preamble – We, the people of the State of Illinois – grateful to Almighty God…
Indiana 1851, Preamble — …We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God…
Iowa 1857, Preamble — We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being…
Kansas 1859, Preamble — We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God…
Kentucky 1891, Preamble — We, the people of the Commonwealth Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God…
Louisiana 1921, Preamble — We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God…
Maine 1820, Preamble — We the People of Maine…acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe…
Maryland 1776, Preamble — We, the People of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God…
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble — We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe…
Michigan 1908, Preamble — We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God…
Minnesota 1857, Preamble — We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God…
Mississippi 1890, Preamble — We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God…
Missouri 1845, Preamble — We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe…
Montana 1889, Preamble — We, the people of Montana, grateful to God…
Nebraska 1875, Preamble — We, the people, grateful to Almighty God…
Nevada 1864, Preamble — We the people of the State of Nevada grateful to Almighty God…
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…
New Mexico 1911, Preamble — We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God…
New York 1846, Preamble — We the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God…
North Carolina 1868, Preamble — We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations…
North Dakota 1889, Preamble — We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God…
Ohio 1852, Preamble — We, the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God…
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble — Invoking the guidance of Almighty God…
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. — All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God…
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble — We, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God…
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble — We the People of the State of Rhode Island, grateful to Almighty God…
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble — We, the people of he State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, grateful to God…
South Dakota 1889, Preamble — We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties…
Tennessee 1796, Art. I. Section III. — That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience…
Texas 1845, Preamble — Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God…
Utah 1896, Preamble — Grateful to Almighty God…
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, Section XVI — That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; 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…
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…
Wyoming 1890, Preamble — We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God…
Hat tips to my friend Jerry and to the folks at JabberJuls.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Skunkfeathers // Oct 17, 2007 at 6:59 am
I will remember this post when some “violation of the separation of church and state!” hysteric starts in on one of their emotive, fact-void rants.
2 John H Davis // Oct 24, 2007 at 1:24 pm
“Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.” — NH constitution.
That means you keep your belief to yourself and I’ll keep my belief to myself.
Remember the old-time mountain hymn, “You go to your church and I’ll go to mine.”
Don’t tell me how to believe and I won’t try to order you around, either.
3 hotoffthepress // Oct 24, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Sounds fair enough to me, John — that is, as long as you don’t try to restrict my right to worship God, regardless of where I go (i.e., school, work, public places, etc.).
4 Patrick Roberts // Nov 5, 2007 at 3:01 am
interesting… an unintended, genius aspect of democracy is that the state of the government will represent the state of the people. We needn’t impose any particular religion on our government. Whether or not our government is morally stable will reflect the moral stability of us, the people. So how are we doing?
5 hotoffthepress // Nov 5, 2007 at 6:28 am
Huh? Maybe I’m too thick to understand your point, but it doesn’t seem to connect with the topic.
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