Yes, you’re missing the context of the non-existence of that phrase. Separation of church and state is not in the constitution or founding laws. It was taken from a personal letter sent to a specific religion because they feared the government would come after them. The left has run on this and been using these words to erase religion from society—pretty successfully i may add. Religion and government are to exist side by side. Not having one suppress the other.
I could look it up but my phone would close out this site. I think the small church was in Connecticut and the Founding Father I can’t recall at the moment.
Our Nation’s Founders defined separation of church and state
<><>primarily through the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause,
<><>a clause prohibiting a national religion,
<><>and the Free Exercise Clause, protecting individual belief,
<><>they created a “wall of separation” (Jefferson’s phrase)
<><>the aim was to shield religion from government control
<><>and to keep government from meddling in religious establishment,
<><>they wanted to ensure religious freedom wasn’t coerced
<><>and that the state remained secular.
It meant no government-sponsored church, no compelling citizens to worship, but allowed religion’s moral influence in culture, ............with the government focused on civil matters, not doctrine.