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Yes but what does the first amendment say about religion? Here is a quote “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. “

“shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”

Gee they seem to want to prohibit it when ever they can. For instance, in high schools, or if the 10 Commandments (which our laws derive from) displayed at a court house. Moreover, they also violate our rights by saying in order to protest we have to get a permit. Total B.S.! Ditto any gun laws too.

I agree with you that the Free Exercise Clause has recently been dishonored by the court, especially when it comes to purely voluntary participation. It also really bothers me not a wit if you want to post your religious symbols or documents in public places -- provided that that option is accessible to everybody, including atheists.

I don't, and cannot, accept your premise that our laws are based on the Decalogue: they simply aren't. Our legal system is based on the English Common Law, which was based in Saxon Law, which was based in Roman Law. Roman Law -- and before it, Greek Law and ethos -- were not influenced in the least by an obscure and insignificant tribe of Jews in the backwaters of the civilized world. Israel was not an important part of ancient history, in law, ethics, language, philosophy, science, or engineering.

Jesus' ethical system has had far more influence on the West than the Ten Commandments, certainly more than the Torah.

But even much of that is honored more in the breach than in actuality: no judge would tell you to give a man your shirt if he's won your cloak, and no criminal system in the West has ever subscribed to the notion that assault should be passively accepted or encouraged -- as in say, turning the other cheek.

I'm happy that faith is important in your life. But that doesn't mean it's had the same importance in the life of the Nation. It hasn't. Revisionist history cannot change the actual words and intentions of the Founders, and cherry picking occasional religious references doesn't prove that they intended to establish a generic theocracy. They wanted religious passions OUT of politics. That message is clear, and it has been so since the beginning.