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*The second reference is the First Amendment, which states that "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."  Some feel that this amendment simply prevents the U.S. government from ''establishing'' a religion, but these were among the most intelligent men of their time, and they used the phrase "''respecting'' an establishment" deliberately.  Some of the first colonies were founded by different groups seeking religious freedom from persecution that was often institutionalized the in the governments they left behind.  The Pilgrims, for example, were Christians fleeing persecution from institutions that practiced Christianity differently.   

*The second reference is the First Amendment, which states that "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."  Some feel that this amendment simply prevents the U.S. government from ''establishing'' a religion, but these were among the most intelligent men of their time, and they used the phrase "''respecting'' an establishment" deliberately.  Some of the first colonies were founded by different groups seeking religious freedom from persecution that was often institutionalized the in the governments they left behind.  The Pilgrims, for example, were Christians fleeing persecution from institutions that practiced Christianity differently.   

One of the main challenges the founders faced in convincing the citizens of the various colonies to cede power to a central government was to assure them that they would not be losing some of the very core freedoms they sought in founding those colonies.  The intent of the founders, then, was to embrace the principle of tolerance and define the institution of the United States as nation of people united regardless of their faith, and administered under a government that is secular in nature.   

One of the main challenges the founders faced in convincing the citizens of the various colonies to cede power to a central government was to assure them that they would not be losing some of the very core freedoms they sought in founding those colonies.  The intent of the founders, then, was to embrace the principle of tolerance and define the institution of the United States as a nation of people united regardless of their faith, and administered under a government that is secular in nature.   

Some equate the concept of secularism to being anti-religion, but it's not.  A secular government is one that's indifferent to religion, not against it.  The wisdom and vision of the founding fathers with regard to religion was their realization that if you wanted to take different groups of devoutly religious people and unite them as "One Nation under God", it was best accomplished by keeping religion out of government and guaranteeing every citizen the freedom to worship God without interference as they saw fit. --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 12:03, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

Some equate the concept of secularism to being anti-religion, but it's not.  A secular government is one that's indifferent to religion, not against it.  The wisdom and vision of the founding fathers with regard to religion was their realization that if you wanted to take different groups of devoutly religious people and unite them as "One Nation under God", it was best accomplished by keeping religion out of government and guaranteeing every citizen the freedom to worship God without interference as they saw fit. --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 12:03, 6 September 2008 (EDT)