The Constitution contends that the framers intended the Constitution to be godless because they believed church-state separation was the best guarantee of liberty. Their critics bitterly denounced them for taking that position. Thomas Jefferson, the source of the concept of a "wall of separation" between church and state, was routinely labeled an "infidel" and "atheist" by his adversaries. What roiled the Constitution's detractors the most was its Article VI, which reads, in part, "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
Opponents worked relentlessly to reword the "no religious tests" clause, or drop it altogether, first at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and a year later at the states' ratifying conventions. In theory, they lost that battle: no religious tests are required of political leaders today. But in practice it seems that it is the religious right who has undermined Article VI of the Constitution, and therefore are the ones guilty of undermining the founding principles set by our founding fathers.
U.S. Constitution Article VI:
(Clause 3) - The 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. In the Federalist #10:
Where Madison talks about the danger of factions to the safety of the union, you can read in the last couple paragraphs: "
A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy;
but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source."So to any American taliban that may be lurking: You ain't fooling no one here. If you want a theocracy, might I suggest you try somewhere in the middle east.
This looks to be an interesting read: >>
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0393039617/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-6961617-5092133#reader-link.