Separation of Church and State...

[CaptainHaplo]

The first amendment you say?

"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."

Where in that - which is the entire text - state that there must be a seperation between religion and government? It says that government cannot DICTATE religion to the people - which is clearly understood. However, the idea that somehow religion must be EXCLUDED from governemnt is something else entirely! Thats my question - where does it state that religion is to be EXCLUDED from government?

Oh - and Rilder - trying to get to a spot where a leader is not allowed to use his own moral and yes - religious convictions - is not only impossible psycologically - it is also a blatently unconstitutional act in that it would be government (of the people, etc) thus PROHIBITING the FREE EXERCISE thereof.

For those who are offended at the HISTORICAL presence of xtian symbology (and there is alot of pagan symbology in our history as well) - your FREE to not look - and FREE to be offended if you do.