Read the Damn Book II

Recently, Christine O'Donnell made herself ridiculous because she doesn't understand that the Constitution's sixth artilcle and the Bill of Rights' 1st amendment mandate the separation of church and state.

The 1st Amendment says, in part, that

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

The state is forbidden from promoting, retarding, or meddling with religious beliefs or practices.

Article Six says, in part,  that

[t]he Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

The argument here is that the only commitment required of anyone working for the state is to protect and defend the Constitution and that no set of religious beliefs or practices are or can be required of state officials.

The Constitution, in other words, creates a secular government that is indifferent to religious matters and denies any religious group the right to meddle in participation in the machinery of government.

Why is it that Constitutional Conservative have so little understanding of the text's plain meaning? Could it be that they are unaware of the problem of state interference in religious beliefs and practices? Could it be that they are unaware of the dangers of religious interference in who is or isn't a citizen and participation in government?  Might it be that they know little or nothing about history?  I'm going to go out on a limb and argue yes on all counts.


Here is a long version of the exchange:



Here's the shorter version.