Since the beginning, it has been widely accepted that every American is entitled to freedom of religion and worship, and that the government itself would never legislate favoring any particular religious practice or institution.
It is evident however that as this freedom has come to be tested, the truth is, that this country has not widely accepted a freedom of religion for all people, but in reality, a freedom of religion for Christian people. When this revolutionary idea was conceived, the only religious minorities that the Protestant majority truly had to "deal with" were the occasional Catholics or Jews. In contrast, Americans today are not only Christians and Jews, but also atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and countless other religious groups. It is in this diversity that conservative Christians have taken a step back from religious toleration. When asked to extend the toleration cherished by their ancestors to adherents of contrary beliefs, the conservative community claims the part of the victim. Religious neutrality in government is deemed secular and worse yet, an attack on Christianity. When discussing separation of church and state and its application, it is inevitable that the faith of our Founding Fathers is introduced as evidence to support this being a "Christian nation." Traditionalists look back to our nation's birth with longing, crediting our founders with great Christian integrity and virtual infallible intellect and reason.
There is no question that intent is important when interpreting the Constitution, as is reading the letter of the law. So then what were the Founding Fathers" beliefs on separation of church and state? Were they as is believed, great Christian men who birthed this nation out of an understanding of God's will and divine providence? George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson were three of the most influential men in founding the United States of America and three of our first four Presidents.
