“Why, oh why, did the Founding Fathers want to separate church and state? It was originally intended that institutions of church (i.e., organized religions) and state be separated, while at the same time it was their intention to include God in the governing of our American society. The importance of that fact cannot be too strongly emphasized. It should serve as a template for every nation on the globe.
“If a person were to read the Declaration of Independence, they would find four references to God. These include an appeal “to the Supreme Judge of the world.” The document further declares the Founding Fathers proclaimed “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” You cannot seek God’s protection and also declare that God must be left out of the affairs of the state. This fact is critical to the formulation of social policy — that our government originally turned to God for help.
“To be an American, therefore, is to seek God’s help.”
Letter to the editor of the Oregonian, by David Doerr