MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
John Adams, who worked on the committee drafting the Declaration of Independence, told his wife, “I ... believe that this document will be celebrated by succeeding generations ....”. The fifty-six men who approved separation from Great Britain realized they would need help against a superior British power. Several phrases in the Declaration carry religious implications and reflect the philosophical and cultural context of the American colonies. Tomorrow, as we celebrate a document adopted in 1776, it will be valuable to take note of four phrases.
The declaration was written to proclaim not only independence from England, but dependence on God. Supportive and informative religious terminology, primarily found in the preamble and conclusion, include 1) Nature's God; 2) Creator; 3) Divine Providence; and 4) Supreme Judge of the world. Drawing on historical context, we'll explore their origins, and attempt to examine their meanings.
The preamble begins, "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for 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...". According to Englishman John Locke and others, the "Laws of Nature" were universal principles, discoverable through reason, which guide human behavior. Colonists saw these divinely ordained principles as justification for separation, with independence from Britain a rational and moral outcome.
Also in the preamble: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Locke in his Second Treatise asserted that the divine creator granted to individuals the rights to life, liberty, and property. Thomas Jefferson substituted "pursuit of Happiness" for "property" to broaden the appeal of the declaration.
The use of "Creator" places God as the source of authority and accommodates religious views. This echoes other colonial documents, such as George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), with wording about rights "bestowed by the Creator." Endowed rights are gifts and considered inalienable, meaning they are absolute and cannot be taken away by any government. Independence is a defense of God-given freedoms rather than mere political rebellion.
Still in the preamble: "We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America... appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions...". This phrase draws from Judeo-Christian traditions, where God is seen as the ultimate arbiter of justice, and promotes the idea of a universal moral order. Similar language appears in colonial charters which often appealed to divine justice to legitimize political actions. Puritan and Anglican sermons frequently referenced God as a judge of human affairs, so the concept was familiar to the delegates.
Adams went on to write to his wife, the day should be “commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to god Almighty.” The signers attested that their intentions were just and accountable to a higher moral authority, not merely human opinion. Independence was seen as a righteous cause, subject to divine scrutiny. When signer Dr. Benjamin Rush asked Adams if he felt they would succeed, he answered, "Yes – if we fear God and repent of our sins.”
The declaration concludes, "...with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." "Divine Providence" is a term rooted in Christian theology, particularly Puritan and Calvinist traditions, which viewed history as guided by God’s will. It also describes God’s benevolent, all-encompassing supervision and intervention. Benjamin Franklin during the Constitutional Convention used "Providence" to describe divine counsel in human affairs. The phrase expresses confidence that God would guide and support the colonies’ struggle for freedom. It conveys dependence on a higher power and expressed the belief that they were aligning with divine will.
Earlier documents such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights and colonial charters used similar religious language to justify governance and rights, and served as patterns for the Declaration. In the Christian context of his culture, Jefferson used terms familiar to Anglicans, Presbyterians, Quakers, Baptists, and others. Biblical concepts like "Creator" (Genesis 1:27) and "Supreme Judge" (Psalm 96:13) were acceptable to all groups. Other concepts of reason, natural law, and universal rights accommodated the intellectual movement called the Enlightenment.
Religious phrases reflected the colonists' belief and reliance on God and served multiple purposes: 1) Moral authority comes from a divine source. More than mere political dispute, the colonies' cause was a defense of universal, God-given principles. 2) Inclusive terms accommodated the colonies’ religious diversity. 3) The language resonated with the colonists’ shared cultural and moral framework to justify rebellion. 4) They did not endorse a specific religion, but aligned with the Founders’ efforts to bring varied religious groups together.
In review: The Declaration of Independence blended the primacy of God and the importance of human intellect and action. The four phrases above unified diverse audiences, lent moral weight, and acknowledged a deity who establishes universal laws, gives inalienable rights, and determines moral correctness. Trust in Providence called on divine protection and guidance of the revolutionary cause.
