As Constitution Day just recently passed (Sept. 17), it is worth taking a fresh look at what our founding document actually established and what it did not.
A common claim is that the United States was founded as a “Christian nation.” While it is certainly true that many Americans in the founding era were Christians and that many of the Constitution’s signers came from Christian backgrounds, the Constitution itself tells a different story about the nature of our government.
The Constitution establishes no national religion. It does not mention Jesus Christ, Christianity, or the Bible. Instead, Article VI expressly prohibits religious tests for federal office, ensuring that public service would not depend on adherence to any faith tradition.