That "religious test" was intended to calm interdenominational contentions.
No, its meaning is clear, in context with the oath to support our Constitution. Read Art VI.
Several of the first thirteen States had religious establishments (where one Christian denomination was favored and supported). Yet, this federal constitutional provision did NOT disuade State Constitutions from their religious tests for State office.
ALL officials, fed/state/local, must swear to support the Constitution, and " --- no religious Test shall ever be required --- " to ANY office. Read Art. VI.
Qualifications for Office.
Webster wrote a great dictionary.
They then began our BOR's with a prohibition that some of those same officals, Congress, " -- shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, -- "
Fancy that.
The States sought to protect their religious establishements from a potentially imposed federal establishment. Requirement(s) for office holders, Monuments and reliefs with religious themes, public proclamations, public prayer, ... all these practices were an unquestioned part of this nation's past. Now, today one must conclude from federal court rulings that honoring God in almost any form (with few exceptions) is "unconstitutional." The law hasn't changed. Men have done this. The truth is there for anyone interested in finding it. The founders were prodigious writers.
Yep.. You should read their greatest work, our Constitution.. And than try to understand its principles. One of its unwritten principles is that politics & religion don't mix. Thus -- No religious tests & no respecting particular establishments. Learn to live with that bit of common sense.
No, its meaning is clear, in context with the oath to support our Constitution. Read Art VI.
"...but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust under the United States." (Article VI, para 3).
"under the United States" is key here. This provision only refers to offices of the general government (United States), not the State governments.