By James A. Haught
Did you know that nearly all 50 states have religious preambles affixed to their state constitutions, in brazen violation of the First Amendment’s decree that government cannot dictate supernatural faith?
Some of these holy declarations date back to the 1700s. They’re little-noticed, because hardly anyone reads state constitutions. Yet they exist as official government proclamations.
Four states (New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee and Virginia) don’t use preambles but include “worship maxims” within their constitutions.
Court challenges to them could fail, because judges often pretend that governmental religious declarations aren’t actually religious. For example, after members of Congress pandering to religious believers branded “In God We Trust” on money and inserted “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, federal courts shrugged off these church-state breaches, saying they’re merely “ceremonial deism” with no “significant religious content.”
In May, the Supreme Court said it was OK for the town of Greece, N.Y., to open council meetings with prayers exalting “the saving sacrifice of Christ on the cross.” Five conservative justices ruled that such invocations are merely “ceremonial.” (Perhaps, privately, they understand that public prayers are meaningless lip service that nobody believes.)
Any intelligent person can see that official government decrees of supernatural belief are gross constitutional violations. Court rulings to the contrary are absurd, almost comical.
If anyone wants to tackle the holy preambles and worship clauses in the 50 states, I wish them god(less)speed. Here’s an alphabetical list of the relevant clauses:
Alabama 1901: 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: We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911: We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
Arkansas 1874: We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government.
California 1879: We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
Colorado 1876: We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.
Connecticut 1818: The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897: Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1845: We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty.
Georgia 1777: We, the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain.
Hawaii 1959: We, the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance, establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889: We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870: We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851: 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: 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 these blessings.
Kansas 1859: We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges.
Kentucky 1891: We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties.
Louisiana 1921: We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820: We, the People of Maine, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, and imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776: We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God or our civil and religious liberty.
Massachusetts 1780: 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: We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom.
Minnesota 1857: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings.
Mississippi 1890: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845: We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness.
Montana 1889: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty.
Nebraska 1875: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
Nevada 1864: We, the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
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: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for 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: We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty.
New York 1846: We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868: 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.
North Dakota 1889: We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain.
Ohio 1852: We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.
Oklahoma 1907: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty.
Oregon 1857 (Bill of Rights, Art. I. Sec. 2): All men shall be secure in the Natural right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences.
Pennsylvania 1776: We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance.
Rhode Island 1842: 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.
South Carolina 1778: We, the people of the State of South Carolina, grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889: We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties, establish this.
Tennessee 1796 (Art. XI): That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience.
Texas 1845: We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777: 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): Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator, can be directed only by Reason, and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other.
Washington 1889: 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: 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: We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility.
Wyoming 1890: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties.
James A. Haught, longtime editor of the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia, is the author of the 2010 book, Fading Faith: The Rise of the Secular Age.
