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The document shows a belief in the Christian Religion in order to be naturalized..how things have changed.since.. 1794.. Well, remember the First Amendment forbids the federal government from establishing a state religion; it does NOT forbid the States from doing so. Connecticut continued to do so until it replaced its colonial Charter with a state Constitution in 1818. Massachusetts continued to establish a state religion until 1833. Maryland is one of eight states (along with Arkansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania Tennessee and Texas) that STILL prohibit Atheists from holding public office. Torcaso v. Watkins (1961) ruled that such State anti-atheism laws are unenforceable. However, IMO, the question of the “no religious test clause” applying to States still remains unresolved — the argument simply needs to be restructured.
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