The
secularists, lead most prominently by the
ACLU and others have for many years been attempting to remove all
references to
God from the American culture. Most often they cite the phrase, “the
separation
of church and state,” and then proceed with their attack on religion in
the
public square, in official documents, in our state run schools and
anywhere
else they think they may be successful. Yet
that phrase appears nowhere in the U. S.
Constitution. The Constitution contains only one short reference to
religion.
It appears in the first of the ten Bill of Rights,
Amendment 1: Congress
shall make no
law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or
of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
The
Amendment clearly addresses the need for
government to stand back and not interfere with all sorts of sentiments
or
expressions made by the citizens of the new nation. The proscription
that the
government may not “establish” a religion was a protection from having
a state
imposed religion not the preclusion of the mere
mention of a religious
belief or the display of religious images or words. Indeed, it
specifically
states that there shall be no bars to such, “prohibiting
the free exercise thereof.” Only
a willful disregard for the clear
meaning of the 1st Amendment would lead one to
believe that God and
religion were to be excised from any and all matters related to the
state.
Should you doubt this – or wish to have further proof – consider the
Preambles
to all of the 50 United States’ constitutions. These were written as
recently
as 1956 and 1959 (Alaska and Hawaii) well within the modern era.
Obviously the
American people believed and were guided by an abiding faith in God and
in His
worship.
Here
is an alphabetical listing of all fifty of the United States’
preambles
to
their constitutions:
Alabama – 1901
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
We, the people of
Alaska, grateful to God and
to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona – 1911
We, the people of
the State of Arizona,
grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution…
Arkansas – 1874
We, the people of
the State of Arkansas,
grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of
government…
California – 1879
We, the People of
the State of California,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
Colorado – 1876
We, the people of
Colorado, with profound
reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe…
Connecticut – 1818
The People of
Connecticut, acknowledging with
gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy…
Delaware – 1897
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
We, the people of
the State of Florida,
grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this
Constitution…
Georgia – 1777
We, the people of
Georgia, relying upon
protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this
Constitution…
Hawaii – 1959
We, the people of
Hawaii, Grateful for Divine
Guidance … Establish this Constitution.
Idaho – 1889
We, the people of
the State of Idaho, grateful
to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois – 1870
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
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
We, the People of
the State 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
We, the people of
Kansas, grateful to Almighty
God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky – 1891
We, the people of
the Commonwealth are
grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious
liberties…
Louisiana – 1921
We, the people of
the State of Louisiana,
grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious
liberties we enjoy.
Maine – 1820
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
We, the people of
the state of Maryland,
grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty…
Massachusetts – 1780
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
We, the people of
the State of Michigan,
grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this
Constitution.
Minnesota – 1857
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
We, the people of
Mississippi in convention
assembled, grateful to Al mighty God, and invoking His blessing on our
work…
Missouri – 1845
We, the people of
Missouri, with profound
reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His
goodness …
Establish this Constitution…
Montana – 1889
We, the people of
Montana, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution …
Nebraska –
1875
We, the people,
grateful to Almighty God for
our freedom Establish this Constitution…
Nevada – 1864
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
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
We, the People of
New Mexico, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of liberty…
New York – 1846
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
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
We, the people of
North Dakota, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do
ordain…
Ohio – 1852
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
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
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
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
We, the people of
the State of South Carolina
grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this
Constitution…
South Dakota – 1889
We, the people of
South Dakota, grateful to
Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties…
Tennessee – 1796
Sec. III: That
all men have a natural and
indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their
conscience…
Texas – 1845
We the People of
the Republic of Texas, acknowledging,
with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God…
Utah – 1896
Grateful to
Almighty God for life and liberty,
we establish this Constitution…
Vermont – 1777
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, Sec. 16:
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
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
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
We, the people of
Wisconsin, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility…
Wyoming – 1890
We, the people of
the State of Wyoming,
grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties …
establish this
Constitution…
"Those
people who will not be governed
by God will be ruled by tyrants."
—William Penn
Reference
discussion on “separation of church and state”:
Wall
of Separation
Attorney Kim Weissman
http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Constitution_Issues/wall_of_separation.htm
Putting
God Back in
the Public Square
Judge Roy S. Moore
http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Constitution_Issues/putting_god_back.htm
One
Nation Under
Several Gods?
Monte Kuligowski
http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/pcism/several_gods.htm
Take
the Constitution
Test
http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Constitution_Issues/constitution_test.htm
Compiled by TYSK and others
www.tysknews.com
2 March 2008
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