Don’t Believe in God? In Studying American History Keep in Mind the Founders Did

Ernest Everett Blevins

LU HIST 701

15 November 2020

In the study of the Early American Republic, the founders of the nation were Christian men.  The importance of this should not be overlooked.  Whether the 21^st-century student is a Christian, Jew, Muslim, or another religion or lack of any religion, the fact that the founders believed in a Christian God and that faith remains pertinent in modern studies of Early Republic.

As the president of the College of Charleston, Rev. J.J. Adams, in a sermon in 1833, points out that the "originators and early promoters of discovering "the future United States that within their charters citing Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia as some examples.[1]  Adams also points out that one of the first public structures to be built in settlements was a church, and as the frontier expanded, churches progressed to the frontier.[2]  The need for men to minister brought about colleges to train such men such as Harvard in Massachusetts so “scholars might be educated for the service of Christ.”[3]  In addition to the charters for the colonies, Adams points to a number of the adopted state constitutions and the United States Constitution as supporters of a Christian faith, including the notation about Sunday for resting.[4]

The Continental Congress proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving in 1782.  This proclamation  showed the Christian backing of the new United States, citing "the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of Divine goodness to these States in the course of the important conflict" and "the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness."[5] In 1789, Washington, as president, set aside a day for Thanksgiving, citing a "duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits" authorized a day of "public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed."[6]

Although the proposed 3^rd Amendment, which became the 1^st Amendment, states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," it only protects the establishment of a state religion.[7]   The original 1^st Amendment addressed the size of Congressional representation, and the 2^nd Amendment addressed Congressional pay increases (and finally ratified in 1992).[8]  While the Bill of Rights' modern alignment indicates the importance of freedom of speech and religion, it is not a clear cut case.  However, after housekeeping of Congress's makeup, it ranked significant enough to include religion in the Constitution to protect from a state church, such as the Church England or the Catholic church, that the church, religion, and government were one.  Elimination of the state church does not equate to eliminating God from their lives, government, or how the founding fathers viewed God and religion.  Nor was it meant, as post Constitutional proclamations demonstrate, to remove God and religion from government operations.

Thus, whether the student follows the Christian faith in the 21^st century, the founders' religious views were significant to their actions in observance of their beliefs.  Their beliefs shaped the way the Early Republic developed.  This influence is well documented and cannot be denied, not current views of religion applied to their lives.

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[1] Rev. J.J. Adams, DD, "The relation of Christianity to civil government in the United States," Charleston, SC: A.E. Miller, 1833, p. 8-9.

[2] Adams, p. 9.

[3] Adams, p. 10.

[4] Adams, p. 11-12.

[5] George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: Continental Congress, Proclamation on Thanksgiving Observation. 1782. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/mgw432313/>.

“Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day – 1782,” https://wallbuilders.com/proclamation-thanksgiving-day-1782/ (accessed 15 November 2020)

[6][6] “Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789,” https://www.mountvernon.org/education/primary-sources-2/article/thanksgiving-proclamation-of-1789/ (accessed 15 November 2020)

[7] “Constitution Annotated, Constitution of the United States, First Amendment,”https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/ (accessed 15 November 2020)

“Why didn't the original 12 amendments make it into the Bill of Rights?” https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/when-congress-passed-the-original-12-amendments-in-the-bill-of-rights/ (accessed 15 November 2020)

[8] “Why didn't the original 12 amendments make it into the Bill of Rights?” https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/when-congress-passed-the-original-12-amendments-in-the-bill-of-rights/ (accessed 15 November 2020)