the phrase " separation of church and state" does not appear in the constitution. Thomas Jefferson first used it when he was clarifying a point of decision on a court ruling. He said, "There is a wall of separation between the church and the state. It is a one way wall to protect the church from the state." Absolutely freedom of religion was the entire intention of the founding fathers when they wrote that NO law could be established regarding religion.
I want freedom of religion for all peoples... I object to the government intervention where they prohibit such by saying communities cannot prohibit religion... no 10 commandments on the wall, etc. Saying congress could make no law does not mean establish laws against it. It should be up to the individual states and communities. Instead the supreme court has strived to turn us into one generic godless society, to our detriment.
I think if someone wants to pray in school, let them pray! The people in Pennsylvania (darn, I can't remember their religious name right now) they should be able to say whatever prayers they like. The Catholics should be able to say their catholic prayers, and the mormon's say their mormon prayers. Each community should work it out as they desire. If you're in a community that doesn't reflect your values, move to a community that does reflect your values.
They say it takes a village to raise a child... but today we don't dare let the village raise our child, because there is a horrible hodpog of beliefs that our government has insisted must be suppressed in the communities, so that we have one generic frightening whole.
