[Ken H]

So again, which version of Christianity would you have govern these United States? Would you bother to protect the other versions, let alone non-Christian religions, agnostics and atheists?

James Madison addressed this point. He attributed religious liberty in the United States not to any inherent qualities of Christianity, but to the multiplicity of sects.

Happily for the states, they enjoy the utmost freedom of religion. This freedom arises from that multiplicity of sects, which pervades America, and which is the best and only security for religious liberty in any society. For where there is such a variety of sects, there cannot be a majority of any one sect to oppress and persecute the rest.

James Madison, Virginia Ratifying Convention 12 June 1788

http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions49.html

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for posting Madison’s very crucial statement, Ken. :)