illini07: i said that states had religions, this is correct, i said that states not being allowed to have religions is nowhere in the bill of rights. this is correct. the 14th amendment is not the bill of rights, its 4 amendments too late! as for a 1947 ruling, that has nothing to do with the fact that states did at some point have religions. my point was that when the first time separation of church and state was written, it was prior to the 1947 ruling, so it has to be pertaining to the federal government, not states. this is historical fact. it could not have pertained to something that did not exist yet!
as far as freedom from religion goes, what case are you citing that claims you have a freedom from religion. freedom from religion, and freedom to practice atheism are two totally different things. heres an example.
a shabbos observer working for the city of new york wants off saturdays. the boss says no. the boss wants freedom “from” religion, and the employee wants freedom of religion. freedom to practice atheism cannot be guaranteed, as it is nothing. you arent practicing anything to have rights for. atheism is a anti-religion, in that it is no religion at all. no practices, rules, or customs. so what freedoms are there to be protected. none. that is why freedom from religion can only mean freedom against religion, and that is not anywhere in the constitution!