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Although some may consider the Declaration of Independence to be a secular document, it actually contains four mentions of God, each of which demonstrates the founders understanding of God’s nature and power. When it came time to declare independence and establish the United States, liberty, not theology, was at the forefront of the Founders’ thinking. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the revolutionary words in the Declaration of Independence that “we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” The Declaration of Independence, the document unanimously adopted by the U.S. Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, is primarily a political document asserting the colonies’ independence from British rule. However, it does contain religious references that underscore the moral and philosophical ideals of the nation’s founders. Since the original Declaration of Independence, which was written by Thomas Jefferson and made official in 1776, the United States has made an about-turn from the values inscribed in that document. Anyone examining the Declaration of Independence is immediately impacted by the new nation’s utter dependence upon God, His providence, and its Judeo-Christian worldview. The fact that the Exploring God's role in the Declaration of Independence and its impact on America's founding. In Congress, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to Although many people today try to minimize the role of God in our nation’s founding, the fact is that the Lord is mentioned four times in the Declaration of Independence. For example, the Declaration mentions the importance of conforming to natural law, as it refers to “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.” Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the first major draft of the Declaration of Independence, penned a letter years later to Samuel Adams on March 29, 1801. He said that as he approached matters of state, he would ask himself: “ [I]s this in keeping with the words of Sam Adams, the patriarch of liberty?” Although many people today try to minimize the role of God in our nation’s founding, the Why it matters. So the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times, saying He created the world, is the foundation for morality, will judge the world, and interferes in the lives of nations and peoples. Why does this matter today? These references to God matter because they reveal a key point the Founding Fathers often brought up. The Declaration of Independence is a document at the very core of our American system of government. Signed on July 4, 1776, the Declaration set in motion a chain of events that would lead to the Revolutionary War, the independence of the United States, and the establishment of an unbelievably effective system of government. Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, this document articulated the colonies' reasons for seeking independence and laid the philosophical foundation for the new nation. The Declaration of Independence mentions God three times, in three different ways. Near the beginning there is “Nature’s God,” then later there is “Creator,” and toward the end “Divine So the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times, saying He created the world, is the foundation for morality, will judge the world, and interferes in the lives of nations and peoples. Why does this matter today? This helps account for the paradox that the signers of the Declaration expressly rely on Providence and the Declaration is a call to strenuous human action, revolutionary action in fact. The reconciliation is found in the fact that revolution is for freedom and independence, the known will of the Creator. Principles of the Declaration of Independence Purpose/Objective: Students learn key principles of the Declaration of Independence including Creator God, Law of Nature and Nature’s God, Popular Sovereignty, Unalienable Rights, and Social Contract, and how historical, influential thinkers and early Americans connected these concepts with the Bible. The Declaration of Independence immediately refers to "Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God." So, for anyone wondering, "Does the Declaration of Independence mention God?" the clear answer is, "Yes," and the context is centered on the idea that the Lord is the Creator of nature. It's a fascinating acknowledgment of God's hand as the maker. The threefold answer lies in the stated purposes of the Constitution, its religious neutrality, and the theory of government it embodies. Whereas the Declaration explained and justified a rebellion to secure God-given rights, the Constitution is a blueprint for stable and effective republican government in a free country. The Declaration of Independence does not envision such a God, and the document could not have formed the cornerstone of the American Revolution without a firm declaration that God—not government—is the foundation of just rule. Here are the four times the Declaration mentions God: Second, what little is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence is only barely compatible with Christianity, the religion most people have in mind when making the above argument. The Declaration refers to “Nature’s God,” “Creator,” and “Divine Providence.” These are all terms used in the sort of deism which was common among many of those responsible for the American Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Leviticus 24:22 - Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God.
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