"Clams Canino" wrote in message
news
Well.... actually the Constitution only proscribed that "*Congress* shall
make no law establishing a religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof"

The **intent** was to avoid a "Church of England" scenario where the there
was a preferred religion ordained by the govt and the rest were
"discouraged".

It's only activist courts that have loosely interpreted that to the point
where nothing of *any* religious signficance is welcomed in *any* public
place. I don't believe that was the framers intent at all. And I'm not
sure
it was ever intended to reach down into local govt the way it has. After
all
it deliniated "congress" in the text.

It didn't intend to even reach to the state level.......many states had
official state religions, some until well into the 19th century.



The "separation clause" got that name after the fact. If the same
courthouse "zeal" to interpret the law so strictly to the letter, were to
apply to the arms ammentment, then my right to own a nuclear weapon or
tomahawk missile system could not be infringed.

-W


"John Gaquin" wrote in message
news:H6CdnYNaEPkICxLcRVn-

The Constitution proscribes the suppression of religion with equal zeal.