“[The ‘establishment’ clasue] prevented the newly formed federal government from establishing religion or from interfering in the religious establishments of the states.”
This is the bullet point. It is true. Modern establishment clause case law has turned that entirely on it’s head—making the “establishement” clause a weapen for massive federal intervention in state affairs.
Basically 1A says the federal government will not set any denomination as “the national religion”, as European countries did (with the obvious conflicts and often violent results).
That did not mean that states couldn’t do it. They already had.
Jefferson, as Governor, proclaimed an annual day of prayer. When he was President, he didn’t do a national day of prayer because he didn’t want to even appear to be promoting (his) and particular denomination.
Jefferson’s “wall” was at the federal level, he obviously believed the states themselves (via citizenry and their state laws) could do this. And he put it into personal practice as a state Governor.
These men (who debated and wrote the documents) KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING and KNEW WHAT THEY WROTE.
They prayed in the Congressional buildings. Had a service on Sundays. Opened Congress with prayer everyday. These men knew they were not breaking their own Constitution by doing so. From the same men came the first Supreme Court justices - they did not declare such practices as unconstitutional.
I believe it’s time to tank the entire lawyer class (the bloodsuckers of society). At least the part that deals with constitutional law as it’s taught in mainstream colleges today.
pong
But now you have the DOJ suing three American citizens in TN to promote Mohammedism. If you want a “separation of church and state”. it has to go both ways.