Am I wrong or did the founding fathers NEVER say “separation of church and state”?
No established religion by the govt.
That doesn’t mean a Godless govt.
I recall many of the founding fathers thinking God was rather important in the success of the nation.
“I recall many of the founding fathers thinking God was rather important in the success of the nation.”
Yes, I think they put it first (as in first amendment).
Re : Post #13
*Am I wrong or did the founding fathers NEVER say “separation of church and state”?*
You are correct, they did not - that was never codified in ANY way into The Law of The United States Of America ~ that phrase was stolen from Thomas Jefferson in a private correspondence (many years after his death)...
Liberty and justice for all cannot possibly be achieved by man. The Founders knew that man is utterly incapable of governing his fellow man justly, without adhering to God’s law. They all understood that the foundations for governmental justice and liberty must stem from the ultimate source of all justice and liberties, id est, Almighty God.
A quote from James Madison expressed their beliefs succinctly, “Any country not ruled by the Ten Commandments will be ruled by tyrants.”