Our Godless Constitution

Brooke Allen, for the Nation, explains how the United States was founded not on Christianity, but on principles developed during the Enlightenment.

Those who would have us believe that we are a "Christian nation" are the true revisionists in contemporary politics. An often cited historical document making this point is the Treaty of Tripoli:

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

The treaty was unanimously passed by the US Senate and signed into law by President John Adams in 1797.