“Many early Americans were the heirs of that exhaustion [sectarian violence and political repression]. They crossed an ocean not to abandon Christianity, but to practice it freely. When they built their new society, they refused to nationalize faith while also refusing to banish it. The Constitution reflects this balance. It is remarkable not because it imagines human beings as virtuous, but because it assumes the opposite. Power is divided. Authority is checked. Liberty is preserved by restraining rulers, not trusting them. This is why the Constitution reads less like a manifesto and more like a restraint system. It doesn’t proclaim human goodness, but it does anticipate human abuse. The separation of powers, federalism, and judicial review aren’t merely clever mechanisms; they’re moral judgments embedded in law. They assume that no individual, faction, or institution should be trusted with unchecked authority. This skepticism is biblical. It reflects an anthropology shaped by Scripture rather than utopian theory.” – Ayaan Hirsi Ali