Is America A
Christian Nation?
The U.S. Constitution is a secular document. It begins, "We
the people," and contains no mention of "God" or
"Christianity." Its only references to religion are
exclusionary, such as, "no religious test shall ever be
required as a qualification to any office or public trust"
(Art. VI), and "Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" (First Amendment). The presidential oath of office,
the only oath detailed in the Constitution, does not contain the
phrase "so help me God" or any requirement to swear on a
bible (Art. II, Sec. 1, Clause 8). If we are a Christian nation,
why doesn't our Constitution say so?
In 1797 America made a
treaty with Tripoli, declaring that "the government of the
United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian
religion." This reassurance to Islam was written under
Washington's presidency, and approved by the Senate under John
Adams. [ More
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