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Under God
- Thread starter ShoeshineBoy
- Start date
It may be only in the familiar requisition that all officers shall take an oath closing with the declaration, "so help me God."
What familiar requisitions?
It may be in clauses like that of the constitution of Indiana, 1816, art. 11, §4: "The manner of administering an oath or affirmation shall be such as is most consistent with the conscience of the deponent, and shall be esteemed the most solemn appeal to God."
How does allowing a depontent to chose between a religious oath or a secular affirmation come to mean that the people granted the government authority over the support or encouragement of the duty which they owe to their Creator?
Or in provisions such as are found in articles 36 and 37 of the declaration of the rights of the constitution of Maryland, (1867): "That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty: wherefore, no person ought, by any law, to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace, or safety of the state, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any place of worship or any ministry
Where in that do you find any civil authority over reigion?
nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness or juror on account of his religious belief: provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that, under his dispensation, such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor, either in this world or the world to come.
One state out of fourty five was populated by Un-Christian religious bigots who conditioned one's right to serve as a juror or to be a witness on one's religion. It was the exception, not the rule.
...Or by article 22 of the constitution of Delaware, (1776,) which required all officers, besides an oath of allegiance, to make and subscribe the following declaration: "I, A.B., do profess [143 U.S. 457, 470] faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration."
Delaware was one of three states out of fourty five states had a religious test for its civil officers. It was the exception, not the rule.
Or like that in articles 2 and 3 of part 1 of the constitution of Massachusetts, (1780 "It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the Great Creator and Preserver of the universe. * * * As the happiness of a people and the good order and preservation of civil government essentially depend upon piety, religion, and morality, and as these cannot be generally diffused through a community but by the institution of the public worship of God and of public instructions in piety, religion, and morality: Therefore, to promote their happiness, and to secure the good order and preservation of their government, the people of this commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic or religious societies to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God and for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provisions shall not be made voluntarily."
That provision was abolished in 1833, which proves that the people of Massachusetts in 1890 did not want their government supporting religion.
the constitution of Mississippi, (1832) Religion {516} morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government, the preservation of liberty, and the happiness of mankind, schools, and the means of education, shall forever be encouraged in this state."
That is the same language that was included in the Northwestern Ordinance, which Congress and the Courts held did not require the government to support the gospel.
Quote from FredFlash:
No government support of religion.
I agree with you to a certain extent. They did NOT want a theocracy. Most of them had lived under a tyrannical semi-theocracy and so that was the last think they wanted. And I can accept that at times they avoided anything to do with it.
But to say there was "no government support of religion" is in my opinion inaccurate wording. Again, I could fill up 20 pages of links showing all the Bible verses and references to God in the governmental documents and monuments of that time period.
The people of that time in general clearly wanted religion in government but also generally clearly wanted to avoid any chance of another tyrannical semi-theocracy.