Historian Gregg Frazer, a professor at The Master’s University in California, addresses the contentious issue of religion's role in the founding of the United States but finds little enthusiasm from audiences on either side of the debate. He argues that the Founding Fathers did not establish a Christian republic, as many believe, and that while some founders rejected key Christian doctrines, others were vague enough that historians continue to debate their beliefs. This perspective often disappoints Christian audiences, while those advocating for a strict separation of church and state are similarly disheartened by the acknowledgment that most of the founders were, in fact, religious in some form.
The upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 has intensified discussions surrounding the founders' intentions regarding religion. Various Christian activists and authors are asserting claims of a Christian founding in conjunction with the America 250 celebrations. President Donald Trump has joined this narrative by promoting "America Prays," organizing events such as a gathering on the National Mall and encouraging cabinet officials to issue Christian messages. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth went as far as to declare that "America was founded as a Christian nation... in our DNA."
In contrast, critics and advocacy groups, including Americans United for Separation of Church and State, vehemently dispute this characterization. They argue that nearly all credible historians agree that America was not founded as a Christian nation in any meaningful constitutional or philosophical sense. A 2022 Pew Research Center report indicated that six in ten U.S. adults surveyed believe the founders intended for America to be a Christian nation.
John Fea, author of "Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?", believes that the past is often used politically and culturally to support various agendas. While public officials did indeed pray for the nascent republic at significant historical moments, Fea contends that issues like taxation and representation were more central to the American Revolution than religious concerns.
Historian Mark David Hall argues that Christianity had a significant influence on the founding of the United States, claiming that while some core founders did not adhere to traditional Christian beliefs, many others did. He notes that the founders’ emphasis on human dignity aligns with Biblical teachings about humanity being created in God's image. Hall also points out that early presidential proclamations and state-sponsored churches indicate that the founders did not see religion as something to be entirely absent from public life.
Despite the lack of specific religious references in the Constitution, such as the prohibition of religious tests for officeholders and the guarantee of religious freedom via the First Amendment, Frazer maintains that the Bible was not cited as a governing source during critical moments, such as the Constitutional Convention. He argues that instead, Enlightenment ideas shaped their key concepts like human equality and accountable government.
The Declaration of Independence does utilize religious language, attributing rights to the "Creator" and referencing the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." Figures like Thomas Jefferson strategically employed terms that could appeal to a broad audience, including Christians and those of other philosophical backgrounds.
Additionally, the religious landscape during the Revolutionary era was predominantly Protestant, albeit with declining church attendance. Many founders were influenced by rationalistic approaches to religion and Freemasonry. Some prominent founders, such as John Jay, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry, were devout Christians; others, including Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, were more ambiguous in their beliefs about the divinity of Jesus. George Washington, who maintained a connection to the Episcopal church and Freemasonry, often prayed for divine intervention in crucial battles.
Despite common perceptions, Frazer asserts that most founders were not deists but rather "theistic rationalists," believing in an active God. Even skeptics among the founders recognized the importance of religion in fostering virtuous citizenship. Many scholars argue that the First Amendment allowed for a religious marketplace, allowing various faiths, including Christianity, to thrive in the new nation.
