The Founders were aware that essential virtues germane to civil society were the natural extension of faith in God. They were also aware, as they had experienced the colonial era, that religious rivalry, factionalism and bigotry could divide the new nation and make the vision of "e pluribus unum" impossible. In fact, that is exactly what Colonial "Christianity" had wrought. . .13 separate colonies and 8 state churches, each asserting a state dogma that adherence to was a strict requirement for a citizen to maintain legal standing and the rights of citizenship.
The genius of the Founders is that, on the one hand, they absolutely recognized, as you have so eloquently pointed out, that faith in God is the well-spring of the essential virtues that underpin an enduring civil society, yet, at the same time, on the other hand recognized that having to establish the social contract upon a particular dogma. . .would divided the nation. Thus, they turned to the notion of "First Principles," "self-evident truths," "The Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." This is key, and it is what has made America so alluring to the people of the world, of all faiths, who come to America (legally) to seek freedom and, regardless of religious affiliation, are full and equal members of the unique American social contract.
I'll leave you with this great quote from Rev. Samuel Cooper, "“We want not, indeed, a special revelation from Heaven to teach us that men are born equal and free; that no man has a natural claim of dominion over his neighbours, nor one nation any such claim upon another; . . . These are the plain dictates of that reason and common sense with which the common parent of men has informed the human bosom.”
Cooper got it right.
It is not supposed to be majoritarian will, but rather moral reasoning that is the foundation our our political system.
The other day when a talking head bimbette spoke approvingly of a “bipartisan” bill passed by congress, the implication was that was all that was required for just law.
As America 2016 illustrates, societies get into big trouble when they disregard the Laws of Nature and Nature's God.