Christian amendment

Christian Amendment is a term that refers to a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would explicitly recognize Jesus Christ as the supreme authority and lawgiver in the United States. The amendment was first proposed in the 19th century by the National Reform Association (NRA), a coalition of Christian ministers and laymen. The NRA sought to amend the Constitution to acknowledge God and Jesus Christ as the supreme authorities in human affairs.

History

The Christian Amendment movement began in the mid-19th century, following the American Civil War. The National Reform Association, founded in 1863, was the primary organization advocating for the amendment. The NRA believed that the Civil War was a divine punishment for the nation's failure to acknowledge God and Jesus Christ in its Constitution.

The proposed text of the amendment varied over time, but a common version read: "We, the people of the United States, humbly acknowledging Almighty God as the source of all authority and power in civil government, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Ruler among the nations, His revealed will as the supreme law of the land, in order to constitute a Christian government..."

Support and Opposition

Support for the Christian Amendment was primarily found among conservative Protestant groups, particularly those in the Reformed tradition. Supporters argued that the amendment was necessary to protect the nation from moral decay and divine judgment.

Opposition to the amendment came from a variety of sources. Many Roman Catholics and liberal Protestants opposed the amendment on the grounds that it violated the principle of separation of church and state. Secularists and atheists also opposed the amendment, arguing that it would infrally religious beliefs on those who did not share them.

Legacy

While the Christian Amendment was never adopted, it has had a lasting impact on American religious and political discourse. The amendment is often cited in debates over the role of religion in American public life, and it has been a rallying point for conservative Christian political movements, such as the Christian Right.

See also

• National Reform Association
• Separation of church and state in the United States
• Christian Right