church_and_state Seeds of Light America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions: Alabama 1901, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land .. Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution... Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government... California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe . Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy ... Delaware 1897, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty ... establish this Constitution... Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution... Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance . establish this Constitution Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings .. Illinois 1870, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government .. Iowa 1857, Preamble. 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 ... establish this Constitution Kansas 1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges . establish this Constitution. Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties... Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy .. Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine .. acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God or our civil and religious liberty... Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom ... establish this Constitution Minnesota, 1857, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work. Missouri 1845, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness .. establish this Constitution .. Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution .. Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .. establish this Constitution Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . establish this Constitution .. 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, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty .. New York 1846, Preamble. 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, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain... Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common .. Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences . Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. 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, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties . establish this Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience... Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution . Vermont 1777, Preamble. 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, XVI ... 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, Preamble. 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, Preamble. 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, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility Wyoming 1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties ... establish this Constitution . After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong! "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." William Penn 041106 ... pete I doubt these men where evangelical christians either... it has been suggested that they were more deists, there is a creator who then disappeared into the mists of time but had to be honoured for its original and only works... 041106 ... Seeds of Light Actually, if you read what they wrote, in quotes as well as their personal journals which are now historical artifacts, they make numerous references to Jesus Christ, Christianity, God, The Bible, Church, etc. These men sought to escape Religion so they could worship God freely! 041106 ... unhinged the opening of the constitution of wyoming strikes me as the most ironic and pertinent in your case 'civil, political, and religious LIBERTIES' civil liberties meaning i have the right to marry who i may because what i do in my house and my bedroom to a consenting adult is none of your damn business; and with the heterosexual rate of divorce in this country no 'christian' has the right to be scrutinizing the sanctity of gay marriage. political liberties meaning i have the right to be governed by a non-fascist body that doesn't impose their moral structure on me for any reason; if i'm not hurting anyone, let me live my life the way i want to. religious liberties meaning no law should be made under or with any religious doctrine in mind as it implicitly forces said religious doctrine on the public that is made to follow those laws. we can be moral without religion people. and while you site state constitutions, the federal constitution, which in case you missed this day in civics in high school, is THE OVERRIDING LAW OF THE LAND no matter what any state constitution says, which conservatives so convienently use to attack state medical marijuana laws, but seem to be convienently ignoring when it comes to the amendment in the bill of rights that states that there is and must be a separation of church and state in this country to ensure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for ALL it's citizens. and i agree with pete, i don't think they are refering to a protestant or otherwise conservative god, but the god that is common to christianity, islam, and judaism....which by the way still excludes any of the eastern non-monotheistic religions. you tread on dangerous ground when you justify unacceptance of other ways of life based on religion. i'm not proposing anarchy here, i'm just saying that your way is not the only right way, your god is not the only right god, your life is not the only just and right life. we're all human; i think jesus would agree with 'live and let live' ; it's not your place to judge my morals but god's. so take comfort in the fact that when i die, my acceptance of all ways of life and not just yours will send me directly to hell. 041106 ... ??????? Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Question with boldness even the existence of God; because if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." Jefferson believed in the existence of a Supreme Being who was the creator and sustainer of the universe and the ultimate ground of being, but this was not the triune deity of orthodox Christianity. Some people try to portray even Lincoln as a Chritian through selective quotation. Christians want to believe the only way to morality is through Christianity. Not only is secular morality possible, it is in at least one way superior in that it doesn't allow the the appearance of morality through showy religiousity to obscure actual immorality (like talking about how you go to church and love Jesus while hating fags and not caring about innocent dead in Iraq). 041106 ... The Heretic IS THERE SEPARATION? 041207 ... Sammayael Jefferson and Adams, as i stated elsewhere, are also responsible for shooting down Patrick Henry's idea of a federally established clergy, as Mr. Henry was perhaps the sole founder who really, truly and accurately fits the evangelical mold. AMENDMENT I The Congress shall make no law... 041207 what's it to you? who go blather from