The argument you make Moe is overly selective and misleading. As for the interpretation of "original intent" that is an interpretation at odds with historical record albeit on favored by some Citizens. But opinions vary.
A more complete reading of the separation clause reveals the idea that government may not establish religion which was a very serious problem and the genesis of the Enlightenment period. A history the founders were very much aware of. Emphasizing only a few words out of context may seem convincing but is pretty transparent evey time.
There is no prohibition to display biblical injunctions on private property. Happens all the time. Using public property to proselytize however, is exactly the thing the separation clause addresses.
And again, as a card carrying academic you are mixing a little fact with allot of conjecture, the Separation Clause does in fact bar the government from establishing a national religion such as the Church of England as it should, but freedom to practice doesn't limit citizens from setting up a Christmas Tree or a Nativity scene or Menorah in a Community park,
i happen to agree with( to paraphrase) Thomas Jefferson - It matters not whether a man believes in many gods or none it neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
You are, of course, at liberty to believe as you wish and practice religion as you choose, with the usual caveats. We all are thankfully. What you or I cannot theoretically do is require others to believe as we prefer.
Seems reasonable.
Of course it seems reasonable, that's the way liberals, lawyers, and academics use words to distort the truth, they started before the ink started to dry on the original Constitution and have been at it ever since, to this very day the left uses certain parts of the Constitution that they can bend to their benefit and ignore those parts that hinder their agenda.
Typically every leftist lie is built on a small bit of truth, then intermixed with a whole lot of seemingly good intent until it sounds reasonable, the Separation Clause does bar our government from creating a state sponsored religion such as the Church of England, but the freedom to practice does not limit citizens to do so only on private property, it doesn't
bar setting up a Christmas Tree or a Menorah in a public school during the holidays, or a Nativity Scene in a community park, that's only a Free Expression that the Constitution speaks to.
It's no different that displaying white crosses in public Cemetaries or on Churches within public view, or on Monuments in public land, but several years ago they tried to ban crosses and Christmas decorations that had a hint of religion in them and they lost that battle in our community, but it doesn't stop them from waging their war on religion, on family, and on the moral values that this country was founded on every day in every part of this country.
And I've never heard of any religious symbolism picking a man's pocket or breaking a man's leg, have you ?
