[Sir Francis Dashwood]

You forgot the bold type: *the modern interpretation*

Maybe, I should have put

THE MODERN INTERPRETATION

[airborne502]

Sir Francis Dashwood wrote:

* THE MODERN INTERPRETATION of The First Amendment says that Government must exorcise all traces of religion and theism from itself. *

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The First Amendment says that Congress shall make no law respecting the [differing & divisive] establishments of religions.

The religion clauses were designed in significant part to try to temper religious disputes: -- The social dissension that grows out of the fact that people have different religions.

Thus, it is not necessary for governments to 'exorcise all traces', but to just avoid backing specific beliefs, -- those that divide us.

81 faireturn

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Maybe, I should have put
THE MODERN INTERPRETATION
174 SFD

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I don't see that it changes the point.