[liberty2004]

but I think it's important to remember that when Article VI, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution was written, over 99% of Americans were Christian, and of those over 98% were Protestant. "No religious Test" meant you didn't need to have membership in any established denomination in order to hold public office. Period.

Good point. It is amazing how many people are ignorant of the intentions of the Founders. They want to interpret everything from the ACLU perspective. The Founders were not anti-religious. They don't read the writings of the Founders to understand their reasons behind elements of the Constitution.

[Ksnavely]

" "No religious Test" meant you didn't need to have membership in any established denomination in order to hold public office. Period. Good point."

Um, if the founding fathers wanted to say no denomination test they would have said no denomination test. But the fact is they chose SPECIFIC language to convey a SPECIFIC point. RELIGOUS tests were not to be administered means just what is says, it protects all religions. You can rationalize your unwarranted contempt for a group of people all you want, just don't juxtapose your beliefs on to the founding fathers intentions.

[cloud8]

> "No religious Test" meant you didn't need to have membership in any established denomination in order to hold public office. Period.

In fact, in colonial New England one had to be a member in good standing of the Puritan church not only in order to hold public office, but even to vote. This is the basis for the No religious Test clause.