Show me the words-------------------Separation of church and state-------------------in the Constitution.
You are correct -- however, to more fully comprehend what the Founding Fathers thought about the matter, would require that you do a bit - actually a lot - of reading. Not from clowns like David Barton but the actual words of the guys who were around back in the day.
We do have a few well-known (to the educated) references that should help one determine the intent of the Founders. Obviously, we should start with
Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists. Oh, one might wish to read
Article 6 of the Constitution to get another hint. Then there is a little essay written by James Madison,
Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, in which one might read
"A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not. Such a Government will be best supported by protecting every Citizen in the enjoyment of his Religion with the same equal hand which protects his person and his property; by neither invading the equal rights of any Sect, nor suffering any Sect to invade those of another."
My bolding.
We also have the
Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796 in which one may read
As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
Six weeks before he died, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to Ezra Stiles, president of Yale College, who had asked about Franklin's religious beliefs.
"Here is my Creed, I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable Service we render to him, is doing Good to his other Children. That the Soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its Conduct in this ... As for Jesus of Nazareth ... I think the system of Morals and Religion as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw ... but I have ... some Doubts to his Divinity; though' it is a Question I do not dogmatism upon, having never studied it, and think it is needless to busy myself with it now, where I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble."