Was Christianity the dominant influence in the founding of this nation?

When I ventured in to the realm of political ideas, arguments, and fist fights (kidding), it didn't take long to discover one of the oldest, basic arguments of classic left-wing versus right-wing controversy that has helped to form the basis of my political commentary. Being a proud member of the followers of Jesus, and as a result, a Christian, I feel like the truth has been hidden or left out of this conflict by the educators of both today and yesterday. So let's look at some points of interest from our history and see if we can shed some truth on the subject.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV

Almighty God" in the Revolutionary context is the God of Christianity—the omnipotent, providential Father figure from the Bible, who grants inalienable rights and oversees human affairs. This reflects a society where Christianity was the default worldview.

Looking to history and the founding of our country would be the obvious first stop, to look for clues of Christianity being the driving force behind our independence from Britain and a tyrannical King that was imposing his will on the 13 British colonies that would soon join together to form the first 13 states in the United States of America. To achieve the end goal of removing themselves from the British King, our founding fathers began what is known as the American Revolution in 1775. Samuel Adams and his Sons of Liberty (a Christian group) organized the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and several quotes of a religious fervor are attributed to him. "In the supposed state of nature, all men are equally bound by the laws of nature, or to speak more properly, the laws of the Creator and "Religion and good morals are the only solid foundation of public liberty and happiness.” are 2 of his most famous faith based quotes.

Patrick Henry, the impassioned influencer of his time, who gave me the "Give me liberty or give me death" speech to the Virginia assembly to rally support for the revolutionary war was a faithful follower of Jesus and made it clear during his life. 1) "It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains." , 2)"That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of the conscience; and it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other." 3)"Being a Christian... is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast." are just a few of his words

Moving forward to the Declaration of Independence in 1776, we find God in the very first sentence. "...the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them..." then "..We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.." then finally an actual prayer "..Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.."

After the successful break off of our nation from the tyrannical British king and the beginning of our own venture in to sovereignty, the original 13 colonies began the task of writing their own Constitutions. This occurred well before the creation of our federal US Constitution. The original writers of the state Constitutions recognized the importance of giving glory to the Almighty God that created us and gave us our inherent rights to freedom and liberty. This is easily proven with the Preambles to those state Constitutions. The chart below shows the influence of Christianity on our founding fathers as they began to enumerate our God-given, inherent rights in the contracts that would eventually create the government that was put in place, to do the business of the People, in those Constitutions.

Chart of States with Preamble References to Almighty God/Creator/Divine (Selected Examples) I've grouped them by common phrasing for clarity. This is not exhaustive for every state but covers the pattern with representative examples.

Category / Common Phrasing

Number of States (Approx.)

Example States and Preamble Excerpts

"Grateful to Almighty God"

~30+

Alabama: "invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God" ,Arizona: "grateful to Almighty God" ,Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin

"Grateful to God"

5

Alaska: "grateful to God" ,Minnesota: "grateful to God" ,Montana: "grateful to God" ,South Carolina: "grateful to God" ,Wyoming: "grateful to God"

"Almighty God" (invoking/guidance)

4

Georgia: "relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God" ,Indiana: "grateful to ALMIGHTY GOD" Oklahoma: "Invoking the guidance of Almighty God" ,Texas: "Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God"

"Supreme Ruler/Being of the Universe" or equivalent (no "God")

4

Colorado: "with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe", Iowa: "grateful to the Supreme Being", Missouri: "profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe", Washington: "grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe"

5

Delaware: "serving their Creator" (or "Through Divine goodness"), Hawaii: "grateful for Divine Guidance"

North Carolina: "grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations"

Massachussetts "We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, and devoutly imploring His direction

Connecticut "The People of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God

This shows broad acknowledgment in preambles of a higher power or creator—often phrased as gratitude toward "Almighty God" or a supreme/creator entity. Variations like "Supreme Ruler" in a few states are functionally equivalent in intent.

From here, the naysayers and nonbelievers will start the mantra of God, and the Divine, and Supreme Being, etc. doesn't spell out Jesus or Christianity. So let me put that to rest before we go further. Our original judicial system and law of the land is based on Common Law and the fundamental principles of law called the Maxims of Law. In Law, as with any science, their exists certain fundamental principles which form its basis and to which reference must be frequently made in its application. These fundamental principles in law are referred to as "Maxims of Law." Certain Maxims of Law have prevailed throughout recorded history. They can be found in the old English Common Law, in the ancient Roman Law, and can be found in the Bible as well. These maxims of law are so manifestly founded on reason, necessity and Divine precepts, that they have been universally accepted as being true rules and principles of law. 1600 of these maxims have been organized in to a book by subject in Charles A. Weisman's book titled "A Selection of Maxims of Law.

Section 49 of the Maxims of Law is titled: God, Divinity, Religion. Pay close attention to 49i.

49a. Where the Divinity is insulted the case is unpardonable.

49b. Human things never prosper where Divine things are neglected.

49c. No one is obliged to accuse himself, unless before God.

49d. Reason is a ray of the Divine light.

49e. It is more serious to hurt Divine than temporal majesty.

49f. That is the highest law which favors religion.

49g. That consideration is strongest which determines in favor of religion.

49h. No one was ever a great man without some Divine inspiration.

49i. The Christian religion is a part of the common law.

49j. No man warring for God should be troubled by secular business.

49k. What is given to the church is given to God.

49l. That which is against Divine Law is repugnant to society and is void.

A few more just to satisfy the naysayers:

34c. He who becomes a soldier of Christ has ceased to be a soldier of the world

81e. Initials are no legal part of a name, the authorities holding the full Christian name to be essential.

84j. To swear is to call God to witness, and is an act of religion.

101f. Truth, by whomsoever pronounced, is from God.

43b. The expression of one thing is the exclusion of another.

And my favorite Maxim of Law is:

51o. All political power is inherent in the people by decree of God, thus none can exist except it be derived from them.

Article 1 Section 3 of my home state of Pennsylvania's Constitution: All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God

And the Preamble to same Pennsylvania Constitution: 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.

Original Delaware Constitution of 1776: " I, _____o profess 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."

Original Maryland Constitution of 1776: oath of support and fidelity to this State, and such oath of office, as shall be directed by this Convention or the Legislature of this State, and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion.

Original Massachusetts Constitution of 1780: And every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably and as good subjects of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law.

Rhode Island Colonial Charter of 1663: that they, pursuing, with peaceable and loyal minds, their sober, serious, and religious intentions, of godly edifying themselves, and one another, in the holy Christian faith.

To bring this to it's logical conclusion, if you don't believe Christianity was the influence of the day when this Nation was created, you have to be purposefully ignoring the evidence. Satan didn't take Buddha, or Allah, or Muhummad or any other false God in to the wilderness and tempt them. He knows who the one true God is. That would be Jesus.