Thanks for the ping. This is one speech by a lawyer which needs to be bumped all day long. The scribes and pharisees Jesus opposed were ruling the land with their libraries of commentary on the law rather than the text of the law itself. Does that sound familiar to anyone who has butted heads with the imbeciles here who will hold up a Supreme Court ruling as "proof" that the Constitution states something not to be found in the text?
"This is one speech by a lawyer which needs to be bumped all day long. The scribes and pharisees Jesus opposed were ruling the land with their libraries of commentary on the law rather than the text of the law itself." When a 'commentary on the law'; i.e., separation of church and state, is treated as de facto law by those who seek power unto themselves that is NOT contained in the law, liberty is lost, not protected.
The law IS that there shall be NO 'national' church. (No 'Church of the United States of America' as there was a 'Church of England'.)
That we would risk a government of 'pagans' was not the 'intent' of the writers of the Constitution. Godless persons are, well, godless. And, godless men answer only to themselves, or their human masters---not a pretty picture.