All to often, people misunderstand "separation of church and state" & the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, what it is, what it means & why it was created in the first place.

First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

"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 of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances"

The U.S. Constitution is a wholly secular & legal document. It contains no mention of Christianity or Jesus Christ. In fact, the Constitution refers to religion only twice –in the First Amendment, which bars laws "respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," and in Article VI, which prohibits "religious tests" for public office. Both of these provisions are evidence that the country was not founded as officially Christian (who's version?). Our nation was founded as a secular government, based on the authority of "We, the People," not a god, king, or dictator. The U.S.A. is the first nation in history to separate church and state. And for very good reasons too.

Separation of church and state is the only principle that can ensure religious and philosophical freedom for all Americans. Church-state separation does not mean hostility toward religion. Rather, it means that the government will remain neutral on religious questions, leaving decisions about God, faith and house of worship attendance in the hands of its citizens.

The results of America ’s policy of church-state separation can be seen all around us: Thanks to separation of church and state, Americans enjoy an unparalleled amount of religious freedom. In some nations, churches remain dependent upon government for support and aid. Religious life in these nations is often devitalized, and many churches are near empty on Sundays. Other countries merge religion and government into theocracies. Religious liberty cannot flourish under that system either; attempt by the government to enforce a version of religious orthodoxy foster only repression. By contrast, religious liberty has flourished in America and separation of church and state can take the credit.

Today we are an open and free society of nearly 300 million Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, Freethinkers and others. All live side by side in harmony. All have the freedom to proclaim their views. All enjoy the right to worship or not worship unmolested by government officials or state-appointed religious leaders. All are equal in the eyes of the government.

To oppose the separation of church & state is therefore to oppose the First Amendment & is thusly, the most un-American, unpatriotic, hypocritical thing one could do as an American that supposedly values Freedom & Democracy.

"The separation of church & state will not survive it is not defended. It will not survive if people come to believe that the principle is not in the best interests of the nation or that it is hostile to religion. Religious Right organizations are working to persuade Americans that separation of church & state harms, & does not protect, religious freedom. Unless Americans are educated about the true history behind church-state separation & how the principle defends religious liberty today, they may accept this propaganda."

Theocracy is a weapon of mass destruction.