Read the F*cking Question. That is the name of the game. The phrase separation of church and state is often used. A poll asking whether this is actually stated in the Constitution is a necessary tool, if only to show that those being questioned do not know the basic document pertaining to citizenship.

I know what the Constitution says, and I know what the Courts have ruled, they are not mutually exclusive. This folly of people believing that the Constitution says that there should be a separation of church and state is dangerous. Remember it was the Court that allowed Jim Crow laws because of the idea of Separate but Equal. This was the law of the land, yet it was never in the Constitution.

dmk

That is not what it says. As you may have noticed, your sentence uses the verb "establish", while the first amendment used the noun "establishment". This should be your first clue that you may have misappropriately rearranged some words.

Just break the sentence into pieces. The first part is, "Congress may make no law." That's pretty clear, right? We're talking about a set of laws Congress cannot make.

The next part is, "respecting an establishment of religion." So what kind of laws can Congress not make? Any laws which respect an establishment of religion. But what is an "establishment of religion"? Well, any religion is an establishment of religion. Christianity, Buddism, Islam...they're all establishments of religion. So basically, Congress can make no law respecting Christianity, Buddism, Islam, etc.

See? Not so tough, right? Now, you may think, "Okay, they can't make laws respecting those religions, but surely they can do other things besides making laws." Well, the Congress doesn't have much power beyond making laws, declaring war, and impeaching the president. Really, making laws is the only power they have which might deal with religion.

So is it more clear what that sentence means now?

But this is not what the sentence says, and it is not what the founders said. I have quoted James Madison numerous times. He said that it exists to prevent the government from coercing people into worshipping anything contrary to their beliefs. James Madison is the author of the First Amendment.

How do you respond to Madison?

Actually, you said "establish A religion". The constitution actually speaks of "establishment OF religion". No "A".
That is rather significant in that it not only excludes any SINGLE religion (or group of religions) from being established, it prohibits THE SUBJECT OF religion from being established.

And as I pointed out before, the whole down-fall on your part is in the word "establish". You interpret it too narrowly.


I quote the experts.
I quote people who interpret the law for a living.

You quote NOTHING and tell me that I don't know. You just toss out your opinion, IGNORING the experts, and pretend that it is me who doesn't know.
Absurd!


As proven by legal experts over and over again, it was intended to do a lot more than just prevent a label of a "state religion".


"trounced"???
"make things up"???
I have been HABITUALLY quoting the experts to PROVE my statements over and over again.
What the heck do you do? Repeat the same insipid request that I answer questions that I've already answered numerous times before.
And you think you are "trouncing" me???
ROFLMAO!
It may feel good for you to say it, but I don't think even you believe that...


Is that who I'm arguing with here?
Because the people with the PhD's agree with me. NOT you...
You don't seem to get that.

Wrong. Congress shall not make a state religion. That is what it means and has always meant. Once again, the new age liberals are trying to redefine the constitution.

Wrong. HERE is what it says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."

Notice, no comment regarding "state" religion.
No specification of "a" religion.
It says that no law respecting ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION.


This is how the constitution IS interpreted.
Do the "liberals" run our courthouses just like they supposedly run everything else in this country, and the Jews run this and that...
Amazing how the prejudice against liberals, and the parannoia you espouse, so clearly mirrors that of those who have prejudice against Jews...

That clause states that congress shall not make a state religion. Nothing else. Go to this link and get a little history lesson.

The True Meaning of the First Amendment

Hey brother, I read some of the stupid shit posted to you, FUCK THEM!@

Know your Rights!

national lawyers guild

Just Say 'No' to Police Searches | FlexYourRights.org

Let us see here now. It is time to play Scalia's game in interpretting the Constitution. The word establishment as a noun means according to dictionary.com

1. the act or an instance of establishing.
2. the state or fact of being established.
3. something established; a constituted order or system.
4. (often initial capital letter) the existing power structure in society; the dominant groups in society and their customs or institutions; institutional authority (usually prec. by the): The Establishment believes exploring outer space is worth any tax money spent.
5. (often initial capital letter) the dominant group in a field of endeavor, organization, etc. (usually prec. by the): the literary Establishment.
6. a household; place of residence including its furnishings, grounds, etc.
7. a place of business together with its employees, merchandise, equipment, etc.
8. a permanent civil, military, or other force or organization.
9. an institution, as a school, hospital, etc.
10. the recognition by a state of a church as the state church.
11. the church so recognized, esp. the Church of England.
12. Archaic. a fixed or settled income.

Of religion is a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase is a phrase which further explains another noun. In this case of Religion further explains the noun establishment.

So Congress shall make no law that estalishes religion, constitutes religion, or recognizes a church as the Nations church.

Pretty easy, at least it was until the the Idea of a Living Constitution developed. Now words no longer have meanings, laws are ever changing, and what is right or what is wrong is interpretted by nine lawyers.

dmk

Thank you Sarge for proving my point.

In God We Trust was fist used on the bronze two-cent piece, which was issued from 1864 to 1873. In 1908, Under Theodore Roosevelt, Congress passed a Bill which ensured that the motto In God We Trust was now present on all Gold and Silver coins. It wasnÂ’t until 1956 that Under God was added to our pledge.

It’s very obvious to anyone that has researched the issue that the forefathers wanted to ensure that all Americans could pray to whatever god they wanted to or not pray to any without fear of persecution primarily from the federal government. Why did they choose democracy, a form of government designed by pagan Greeks, and not Monarchy, like the ones Christianity formed under? It seems they relied more on reason than we give them credit for. Remember Thomas Paine rallied Americans behind the Revolution and wrote the age of reason.

To me a secular government (the one we have that does not acknowledge any religion as being better or more right than another) is best all around for everyone. What do you think? Why didn’t our forefathers decide to make America a Christian Theocracy?

Republicans talk about stopping abortion so they can have fodder to send to war.
Stopping any social aid so they can watch the poor suffer.
They propose no tree left behind and the dirty skies initiative.
They ignore Global Warming
They support Toxics Reporting Cutbacks
They support the Unclean Water Act
They support Reduced Environmental Enforcement
They support Cut backs on protections for endangered species
They support Allowing America's dirtiest power plants to keep polluting
Damn sure isn’t what compassionate means!
compassionate: Definition, Synonyms and Much More from Answers.com

Born 1854
Died 2006

Good Riddance!