Providence or Secularism? Steven Smith on America’s Constitutional Soul

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] doesn’t the U.S. Constitution mention God—and what does that silence mean?Steven Smith, one of the nation’s foremost legal scholars on law and religion, joins Will and Josh to unpack the complex—and often misunderstood—relationship between the Constitution, religious liberty, and American identity. His new book, The Godless Constitution and the Providential Republic, argues that while the Constitution omits references to God, the nation’s political life has long been shaped by a providential worldview.Together, they explore landmark court cases like Engel v. Vitale and Kennedy v. Bremerton, the shift toward secular governance in the 1960s, and the ongoing culture war over Christian nationalism. Smith challenges both theocracy and militant secularism, offering a third path: a framework rooted in institutional church-state separation that preserves space for pluralism and public faith expression.If you’ve ever wondered whether America is—or was ever meant to be—a “Christian nation,” this conversation offers clarity, nuance, and constitutional insight.Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.👤 Guest Bio:Steven D. Smith is a retired law professor from the University of San Diego and one of the country’s leading scholars on law and religion. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has written extensively on the First Amendment, church-state relations, and constitutional interpretation. His latest book is The Godless Constitution and the Providential Republic.🔗 Resource Links:The Godless Constitution and the Providential Republic: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780802885227 Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: [email protected] Wright, Political Host: [email protected] Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast