"a nation whose people do not need to be controlled by their rulers because they find themselves individually accountable to their Maker. "
You're exactly right! Don't get me wrong, I do not loathe religion and undestand the positive impact it has on the lives of many. What I DO loathe is the corrupting and oppressive qualities it exhibits when the power that comes with it falls into the wrong hands... Catholic Europe, the theocracies throughout the ME, etc. Religion, since its inception has often been used as a control mechanism, and being that the history of that is well established, as freedom loving people, we should prevent any such 'institution' with such a history to rear its head within the ranks of our ruling powers.
I do not agree with the display of the Ten Commandments in any government facility. It is a step in a dangerous direction, history proves it so.
Okay, first off - the Founders prohibited an Establishment of Religion (a state church in the parlance of the day) as the Founders were all Christians, but of different denominations and they feared a state church.
Their recognition of God in their various documents, letters, and speeches was not ever meant to empower clergy over the People. As well it should be. But they would go to war against the people who would create a secular state out of America because they also feared unbridled secularism more than a state church - especially after the horrors or the French Revolution and the atheist state that followed.
"I do not agree with the display of the Ten Commandments in any government facility. It is a step in a dangerous direction, history proves it so."
The Ten Commandments has been posted in the US Supreme Court from Day One. It was in your parent's school house. It was posted freely about this country for many years until just recently and there was never a theocracy installed in the US due to this. History, my friend, proves you wrong.
Let me ask: name one (1) instance in the last one hundred years where a posting of the Commandments has created imminent danger for anyone?