[GrandEagle]

Separation between Church and State means, or at least should mean, that government will not takes sides promoting one religion over the other.

Interesting article. - Thanks for the ping!
I would argue that even the above statement is from a liberal slant, although more to the "center".
What is conveniently erased from history is that there were established state religions until well into the 1800's. If memory serves me correct, the last official state religion was eliminated by a vote of the people living in the state sometime in the mid 1850's.
At the time of the Constitutions writing, most states had an official, state endorsed, religion. Three of those states maintained this after the Constitutions ratification.
Also conveniently erased is the fact that the Bible was used as a textbook in public schools (generally for a reading textbook) for well over 150 years.

Now, keeping in mind that the folks in authority in these states were the very people who wrote and ratified our Constitution, their credentials to understand what it meant are impeccable. Consider:

Merrian-Webster Online:
Main Entry: respect
Function: transitive verb
1 a : to consider worthy of high regard : ESTEEM b : to refrain from interfering with
2 : to have reference to : CONCERN
synonym see REGARD

It glaringly self apparent that the intent if the first amendment:

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.

means exactly what is says, that the Federal Congress can make no law establishing an official religion of the United States. It specifically prohibits the Federal government from having an opinion on the ESTABLISHMENT of religion, therefore the Federal government can not establish or un-establish a religion.

Generally, the folks who want to abide by the fictitious "Separation of Church and State" amendment are intelligent people, fully capable of understanding the English language, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that they know the facts and simply do not like them. Since they know the truth, I find it a waste of time to even make the argument with them.

Cordially,
GE

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Also conveniently erased is the fact that the Bible was used as a textbook in public schools (generally for a reading textbook) for well over 150 years.

Universities were also divinity schools...

[little jeremiah]

I agree. But discussion such as this are useful for a couple of reasons - helping to sharpen one's intelligence and communication skills, and good for lurkers who haven't made up their minds yet about issues such as this, for instance, young people.