Every state constitution refers to God, as understood by the writers, as a Creator Christian God, not the impersonal god of Hinduism or the deified Buddhist god. Furthermore, the Judeo-Christian Creator God, from whom comes our freedoms and rights, is written into all 50 state constitutions, directly or indirectly.
The common expression “grateful to Almighty God for our freedom” refers to the belief that the source of our rights is not from government, but rather from God. A good example is the Maine Constitution which calls God the “Sovereign Ruler of the Universe.” The Delaware Constitution says, “Divine Goodness all men have by nature the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator.” The Virginia Bill of Rights refers to the duty that “we owe our Creator.” The Washington State Constitution Preamble says, “We the People . . . [are] grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.” Teachers denied the right to critique Darwinism could simply teach their state’s constitution. It could not be unconstitutional to teach the state’s constitution!
All 50 state constitutions acknowledge God, mostly as the Creator, Sustainer, and Bestower of liberty. The ACLU and the federal courts are wrong to deprive students of this knowledge. Below are the relevant sections from all 50 states. All emphasis is added.
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 the Universe.
Connecticut 1818, Preamble: The People of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government.
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 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 . . . do establish this Constitution.
Illinois 1870, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Illinois – grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon 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 State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and independent government.
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 of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Louisiana 1921, Preamble: We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy . . . do ordain and establish this constitution.
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 God’s aid and direction in its accomplishment.
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 . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Mississippi 1890, Preamble: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking his blessing on our work, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Missouri 1845, Preamble: We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness, do establish this Constitution.
Montana 1889, Preamble: We the people of Montana grateful to God . . . to secure blessings of liberty . . . do ordain and establish this constitution.
Nebraska 1875, Preamble: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom do ordain and establish . . . the Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble: We the people of the State of Nevada Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . . . do 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 the 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 . . . do ordain and establish this constitution.
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, do establish this constitution.
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 blessings.
North Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this constitution.
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 welfare, do establish this Constitution.
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Oregon 1858, Bill of Rights. Art. I. Sec. 2: All men shall be secure in their natural right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences.
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble: We, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
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 upon our endeavors.
South Carolina 1778, Preamble: We, the people of the 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. Sec. III: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences’.
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 conviction . . . 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 . . . do establish this constitution.
Wyoming 1890, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political and religious liberties . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.
While the founding fathers went to some lengths to ensure the US would never have its own version of the Church of England, they clearly conceived of their new country as fundamentally Christian as opposed to any other religion, as did those who drafted the 50 state constitutions. Removing the discussion of the Christian history of each state from the public classroom is a gross misrepresentation of the actual facts behind what motivated each state to draft its own constitutions, and in reality, this does more to “promote” a religion—the religion of humanism.
