The truth about the Separation of Church and State

In recent years, there's been quite a bit of bleating from the fundies claiming that the Constitution does not suggest a real separation between church and state. In discussing this highly charged topic, people generally quote the First Amendment from Bill of Rights:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

In all honesty, that doesn't say much regarding whether or not church should be a separate entity, nor this it say anything about this country being founded on the Christian religion and principles.

In order to delve into the minds of our Founding Fathers, we have to move two decades into the future. In 1796, the United States signed a Treaty with Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary. It was known as the Treaty of Tripoli. Take a look at Article 11:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

It is important to note that the following year, this treaty was read aloud on the Senate floor, unanimously approved by all, signed by then President John Adams and proclaimed across the nation.

Considering the entire Senate, who lived during the time of the composition of the Bill of Rights, voted unanimously to approve this phrase in 1797: "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion...", how can we now question the intent of our first Amendment? It can be implied that these men had first hand knowledge as to the intent of our First Amendment as well as the overall intent of our Founding Fathers.

It is clear that this country was not founded on the Christian religion, which also means laws based on Christianity must not be legislated! Can some one tell this to the fundies so that I can get married already?

I often wonder, what if the Founding Fathers were gay? Think about that for awhile :-)