“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.”
— US Declaration of Independence, 1776

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Some may watch this video and disregard it for having the religious or faith based references. However, the historic fact is, that our basic rights declared in the Bill of Rights and referenced in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence were derived from “Natural Law”. It is also known by those who believe in a Creator as “God’s Law”. In either case, it is the bases for our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (property). Also see philosophy of liberty.

The founding fathers never intended however, to establish a national church or national religion like so many other countries had. The United States of America was inteded to be a safe haven for all religions and faiths. Those inalienable rights were to be extended to every US citizen, including those that believed in other religions, so long as the practice of such religions did not infringe upon the Constitutional rights of others.

A further look at the roll of religion in our founding, consider this excerpt from the farewell address by George Washtington, 1796.

“Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.

A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric ?

Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”