[quote=jficquette][quote=ocrenter]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.

sounds like separation of church and state is pretty clear cut here.[/quote]

It’s not there at all. It simply says that the government has no business meddling with religion period.[/quote]

Idealogues see things as simple. As cut and dried. Black and white. The words, as written, are opaque, neither black nor white. Clarity has only been provided by almost 219 years of precedent, set by the supreme court. Pointing to the words, without the context of those subsequent court decisions is ignoring the law.