Apologies, I am not certain how my initial argument was forfeited. Allow me to begin by expressing my gratitude to Con for accepting this debate.
Opening argument: The Constitution, serving as the foundation of American society, is not based on any form of religion, including Christianity. This is due to America's secular approach to religion and its influence on society. The nation was designed to be a democracy rather than a theocracy.
First supporting argument: To demonstrate that the Constitution is not based on the Bible, one simply needs to examine the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This reveals that the notion of religion as the foundation of the Constitution was not a prevailing belief among the Founding Fathers.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
If Congress cannot make a law forcing someone to respect religion, then it cannot be true that the Constitution is based on the Bible, as that would require any society with foundations in a religion. Furthermore, the First Amendment is the only part of the entire Constitution that addresses religion. Neither God, Jesus, nor any religious figure is used or referenced in it, which is another requirement for a society basing its legal foundations on Biblical texts. The absence of religious references, apart from prohibiting their ban and requiring legal respect, demonstrates that the Constitution is founded on the separation of church and state, not in favor of merging them.
Second supporting argument: As previously established, the First Amendment demonstrates that the Constitution is founded on the separation of church and state, contradicting the notion that it is based on religious principles. Regarding the justification of the Constitution itself, if it were indeed rooted in the Bible, one would expect its rationale to include at least one reference to God or Jesus, correct?
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
In all constitutional texts, when citing laws or justifying actions, religion is never mentioned. Actions and decisions are justified by the democratic power of the people, not by a religious figure such as God. This undoubtedly proves that if the Constitution were based on the Bible, the founding fathers would not have separated Church and State but rather made their union a requirement. They would not have gone to great efforts to keep the Constitution and the Bible separate from each other.
closing argument: It is evident from the Constitution's own wording that, although the Bible is a respected right to express under Constitutional law, it is not the foundation of the Constitution itself. If the Founding Fathers had intended for their religious beliefs to form the basis of our society, the phrasing and statements in the First Amendment and others would not be possible. Denying the separation of church and state, and thus the Founding Fathers' refusal to incorporate religious influences into the Constitution, contradicts its own stances and claims. The Constitution asserts that America is secular and does not justify itself under any religious pretext.
Vote Pro
sorry for the initial forfeit guys that was not intentional.
Is anything directly based on the Bible that still survives till today?
Is anything not indirectly based on the Bible in the western portion of the civilization?
I would say that I don't know any instance that would say no to either, and I am 99% confident that the consititution is one of the ordinary objects subjecting to "yes" to both.
Misread as "The constitution is not as based as the bible."