That is not entirely accurate either.
Not a single one of the founders had any interest in governmental recognition of religion, only the freedom to follow it. There is no writing that I know of from anyone of the period that suggested citizens needed to blend nationalism pledges with theocratic themes.
And honestly none of this was an issue until politicians made it one.
To the contrary, what I said is factually accurate. What I cited to was history. Facts.
Your idea of a “separation of church and state” is a fiction, and has no historical basis.
The historical facts show the framers and founders did have the government engage in “recognition of religion.” Their very behaviors and actions speak louder than their words. Their very actions and behaviors reflect what they understood to be allowed and disallowed.
What you think the founders had “any interest in” doesn’t matter. Facts matter. The facts are some of those very framers and founders assisted in the writing of the 1st Amendment, passed the 1st Amendment, and also approved of opening Congressional sessions with prayer, passed legislation for the appointment of chaplains to lead the prayer, passed legislation for the payment of those chaplains, those laws were signed by the President. Presidents called for a national day of “payer and fasting.” The same week Congress approved the Establishment Clause as part of the Bill of Rights for ratification by the States, the same Congress enacted legislation for paid chaplains in the House and Senate.
The Supreme Court under John Marshall opened its sessions with the prayer, “God save the United States and this Honorable Court.”
The day after the First Amendment was proposed, the same Congress requested the President proclaim “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed, by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many and signal favours of Almighty God.” President Washington called for the first Thanksgiving Proclamation shortly after, set the date of November 26, 1789, can called on behalf of the American people “ ‘to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that is, that was, or that will be,’ ”
The same Congress reenacted the Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787, which said, “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
Thomas Jefferson concluded his second inaugural address by recognizing supreme being, who was very involved in human affairs, for assistance, and asked others to “join supplications” to this being:
“I shall need, too, the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our fathers, as Israel of old, from their native land and planted them in a country flowing with all the necessaries and comforts of life; who has covered our infancy with His providence and our riper years with His wisdom and power and to whose goodness I ask you to join in supplications with me that He will so enlighten the minds of your servants, guide their councils, and prosper their measures that whatsoever they do shall result in your good, and shall secure to you the peace, friendship, and approbation of all nations.”
James Madison, in his first inaugural address, had the following to say: “in the guardianship and guidance of that Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations, whose blessings have been so conspicuously dispensed to this rising Republic, and to whom we are bound to address our devout gratitude for the past, as well as our fervent supplications and best hopes for the future.”
