Reply #31: I've swayed a few people on this subject.

[BalancedGoat]

Alas, some people, however, will never be swayed.

Does It Matter that the Constitution Never Uses the Phrase "The Separation of Church and State"?

A good read about why it doesn't really matter that the phrase isn't in the constitution.

I've found that the best way to try to sway someone on this issue is to use the reasoning that is used by the courts. That reasoning is essentially this: An act of congress that puts one religion or set of beliefs above others, or puts others below another is, in essence, the de-facto establishment of a national religion, even in absence of a formal declaration.

Some rightwingers seem stuck on the idea that as long as we don't actually have a "Church of America" or whatnot, that everything else is all good. The best chance is to get them to see that the effect is the same whether or not the government formally endorses one religion.

Best of luck to you.