We should look closely at The First Amendment to our Constitution and remember that the success of our democracy is owed to the foresight of our forefathers in establishing this separation of church and state.

John Leland, a Baptist Minister and friend of Jefferson and Madison, made this statement on July 5, 1802, which I think properly addresses this issue with a clear and precise warning.

"Guard against those men who make a great noise about religion, in choosing representatives. It is electioneering. If they knew the nature and worth of religion, they would not debauch it to such shameful purposes. If pure religion is the criterion to denominate candidates, those who make a noise about it must be rejected; for their wrangle about it, proves that they are void of it. Let honesty, talents and quick despatch, characterise the men of your choice."

With all due respect to GCPat, I would tend to disagree with your interpretation of the First Amendment. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion …" is a firm and concise statement which dictates this separation rather explicitly. Freedom of religion is a right guaranteed by the constitution and our government cannot dictate how religious organizations conduct their services. It is understood that civil authorities will provide neither a helping hand, nor will they hinder the functions of a religious group. However, this must also be understood to be a two way street. It is essential that we all understand that a religious group or organization cannot dictate to nor try to control the government. We have many religious groups and organizations in the United States which adhere to a wide variety of principles and doctrine. All of these organzations must be granted the same religious freedoms and all of these groups must understand the inherent dangers of expecting the government to promulgate laws that would restrict one or more groups based on the beliefs and doctrine of another. This type of action would only agitate other denominations. This government of ours is a government of all citizens, not the government of one particular denomination.

Justice Black offers an eloquent explanation of why this must be, in his delivery of the Supreme Court opinion in Engel v. Vitale.

"By the time of the adoption of the Constitution, our history shows that there was a widespread awareness among many Americans of the dangers of a union of Church and State. These people knew, some of them from bitter personal experience, that one of the greatest dangers to the freedom of the individual to worship in his own way lay in the Government's placing its official stamp of approval upon one particular kind of prayer or one particular form of religious services. They knew the anguish, hardship and bitter strife that could come when zealous religious groups struggled with one another to obtain the Government's stamp of approval from each King, Queen, or Protector that came to temporary power."

When you say that this country should be "a Republic under God", I would personally tend to agree with you. However, I shall not demand that my specific religious beliefs be valued, by my government, as greater than those of any other citizen. I respect everyone's right to choose and practice whichever religion that they prefer and I expect them to offer me the same respect.