Xander,
On separation of religion and state.
The founding fathers wanted to protect religion from federal-government interference, not diminish its influence in our public life.
While I don't deny that some of the fathers were Deists, neither should anyone deny that some were church-going believers. They included Presbyterian Hugh Williamson of N.C.; Roman Catholic Daniel Carroll of Md.; Quakers John Dickinson of Del. and Thomas Mifflin of Pa.
Ben Franklin asserted, "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God governs in the affairs of men." George Washington, in his Farewell Address wrote that "reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
The providence of God was openly and officially acknowledged. Some states had religious requirements to hold office.
The term "establishment of religion" had a definite, agreed-upon meaning: an official church, vested with privileges denied other churches and suported by the public treasury. Such was the Church of England in Great Britain--and churches in nine of the 13 Colonies at the outset of the American Revolution.
Because of growing pressure, however, pressure mounted within the Colonies to disestablish these churches. In 1785, James Madison co-sponsored a bill in Va. to disestablish the Protestant Episcopal Church and prohibit taxes from being used to support any church. He did not act out of animosity to religion, but mainly at the request of other denominations who felt unfairly treated. Nor did he intend to erect a "wall of separation" between church and state: on the same day, he introduced a bill "for appointing days of public fasting and thanksgiving!"
Religious belief was officially sanctioned. Days of prayer and appeals for divine assistance were common. The Continental Congress appointed a chaplain and provided for an opening prayer as one of its first items of business.
When the Continental Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance, governing territories beyond the Ohio River, one of its goals was the promotion of religion. One lot in each parcel of land in the territories was to be "given perpetually for the purposes of religion." And in 1780, in the midst of Revolutionary conflict, the Congress also took steps to print an American Bible, as the supply from England had been cut off.
As to the First Amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" the meaning is quite clear. Congress was forbidden to legislate for or against church establishments. It could neither set up a national church, nor interfere with the established churches in the states.
Official support for religion persisted well after adoption of the First Amendment. The day after the House approved the First Amendment's establishment clause, Sept. 25, 1789, it called for a day of national prayer and thanksgiving--the precursor to our present national holiday.
Congress itself has engaged in officially sponsored, tax-supported prayer, complete with paid official chaplains, from the outset.
President Washington said: "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly to implore His protection and favor."
The conclusion is obvious: no wall of separation between religious affirmation and civil government was every intended by the First Amendment.
UNDER GOD!