"The best way to ensure the restoration of Christianity as the basis for this country's policies is though straight conversion of the people, not through taking over the government."
That's the most sensible thing I've read regarding religion and government on this forum. Well stated, ottom.
While anybody who says you can't legislate morality is a pure idiot and should be banned from voting since they don't have the IQ of a pile of poop, the best way to change society is by CONVERSION, not government.
I agree with Harris that the current view of church and state is not what the founders intended. Anybody who bothers to read the Annals of Congress....in which the debates on the first amendment are recorded....will see people were concerned the Amendment could be read to be for a strict separation. Madison spoke up to assure them that that was not the amendment's intent, and the assembly was satisfied and adopted it.
But, while I agree with her there, she was a bit over the top otherwise.
We were not intended to be a theocracy, but a balanced government primarily secular in nature but with some religious influence.