Reply #104: I am well aware of the unholy alliance of Church and State

[Raksha]

and what disastrous results it had for the Jews in Europe.

Re As you go back in history, it becomes nearly impossible to separate the church from political institutions -- they were the same thing, for the most part.

Certainly Jews had been used as scapegoats for centuries, and hated for it, to boot. In many "Christian" countries, laws against usury prohibited Christians from lending or borrowing money. Enter the Jews, who were pushed into the role, and then hated for it. Convenient, huh?

No argument there! In fact, the big attraction of America as a destination for Jewish immigrants like my grandparents was precisely the "wall of separation between church and state" (Jefferson) the fundies claim doesn't exist because those words aren't in the Constitution. The Jews knew that principle would protect them from persecution like nothing else, and that's why we continue to defend it with such passion today. We are well aware it has literally saved our lives.