[DPB101]

The founders did not want a national religion. End of that story. They endorsed government being involved in religion in all manners of ways. From hiring clergy to preach to the native tribes, to holding full church services in the House of Representatives, to giving land to missionaries.

Ever read the constitutions of the various states? Many of the men who ratified the first amendment lived in states which had tax supported religions.

[firebrand]

Yes, I've been through all the state-constitution business on various FR threads.

When I was in elementary school, there was still prayer in the public schools. Every morning we had assembly. The Protestant teacher would lead us in the Protestant version of the Lord's Prayer. When she got to the part about "For the kingdom, the power, and the glory . . . ," there would be almost complete silence, since almost 100 percent of the kids were Catholic. That is my experience of state-sponsored religion.

So tell me about the state constitutions again?