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FACT BRIEF

Is the Bible in the founding documents of the United States?

By Sue Bin Park
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NO

There are no references to the Christian Bible, or any other religious texts, in the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, or Bill of Rights.

The Declaration of Independence mentions both a Creator and Nature’s God. Both terms were associated with Deism, an influential Enlightenment ideology characterized by a belief in a God who created the universe but does not interfere with its natural laws. Deism’s unorthodoxy was reflected in such religious terminology that avoided Judeo-Christian associations.

While there are no references to any specific religion, the word religion is used twice in the Constitution. Article 6 prohibits religious tests for federal office, and the First Amendment guarantees religious freedom and forbids the government from establishing an official religion.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
National Archives Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
National Archives The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription
National Archives The Bill of Rights: A Transcription
Encyclopædia Britannica The Founding Fathers, Deism, and Christianity | Christianity, Enlightenment & Religion
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.