[gcruse]

I do not believe public institutions are the place for religion. Sunday schools and churches are there to fill that function. Maybe, in these days of manifold political permutations, the phrase 'no man is an island' breaks down at the affiliative level.

[Dales]

I completely understand your point. Mine wording may be weak, but the intent is more aimed at preventing the imposition of militant atheism as a defacto state religion than anything else.

Our founding fathers did not hide the fact that they were religious, and did not hesitate to reflect that in their public roles. To my eyes, this is how it should be. Representatives from religious areas should be allowed to reflect that in their lives and vocations, just as representatives from areas that are more secular should be allowed to not. Nothing more, nothing less. Not the imposition of a religous state, nor the imposition of an atheist state. Jesus' realm is not Caesers'.

But more importantly, the fact that we differ in that regard should never turn me from people like you as allies, nor people like you from me. If either happens, then this is the exact problem that that particular wording (poorly constructed as it is) was aimed at trying to prevent.

Regards