I used to think as I am quite sure most of you that the origin of "Separation of Church and State" arguement was penned by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists. After doing a bit of research it is easy to see why less than honest sources of media would not want you to know that is in fact false. Jefferson was pointing out the how to interprut the 1st Ammendment. Writing that in the 1st Ammendment to our Constitution the Founding Fathers specifically wrote of religion ahead of speech. The intent is to show that government has no right to obstruct religion. The 1st Ammendment says:
"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."
The orgin of this concept is what in fact spawned the freedom of religion from the Roman Catholic Church and the prodestant revolution. Martin Luther wrote the Doctrine of Two Kingdoms of God. I believe the the book was titled On Secular Authority. He writes that God requires a voluntary faith and that goverment has its' place in life and property matters but not in matters of faith. The founding fathers often refered to the writings of Luther who created the concept of separating religion from government control. Jefferson was not interested in removing all references of God from public view. He was concerned that people be allowed to worship when and where they pleased.
In the 10th Ammendment it says:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Meaning the US Department of Edjucation is a direct violation of the 1st and 10th Ammendments. Also the 9th Ammendment which says:
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
That means the 10th carries the same weight as the 1st and could further be taken to mean that because religion come before speech
in the 1st it does so as a measure providing for free religious speech, religious press, and the right of religious assembly.
The Lutheran Church forbids its' members from joining clubs that have a belief system that contradicts the Word of God as written in the Bible. Children register in public schools that teach anti-Biblical concepts. So the fact that my daughter or yours, or your son who attends a public school that teaches evolution science and forbids the Word of God is violating your 1st Ammendment rights and mine. Because the honest interpretation of the separation is to protect religious views from government control.
The school choice arguement always gets caught up on the "Sepparation of Church and State" issue. The 1st Ammendment was actually the reason most risked their lives in coming to America. It should always be refered to as the Freedom of Religion Ammendment.