I'm not Tom nor Ed, but I have some opinions of my own. Free disclosure, I'm agnostic so I have no religion to advance in this issue.

There is ample historical evidence that indicates the Founders were mostly religious men. Some like Jefferson were Deists but most were Christians. They did write the establishment clause in the First Amendment prohibiting the US government from creating a "Church of America" like the Church of England. They also wrote that Congress can make no law restricting the free exercise of religion.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

It's that second part that seems to get overlooked. The phrase "separation of Church and State" doesn't appear anywhere in the Constitution, but it has been a guiding principle for several decades. I'm old enough to remember teacher led prayer in school. That was struck down by the Supreme Court in the early 1960s, and I honestly believe that was a good decision. In response to that and subsequent rulings, some school officials have gone overboard, IMO, to the point of prohibiting individual students from reading the Bible during free periods. There have also been some rather inconsistent dictates in some schools, such as allowing student groups based on sexuality but prohibiting those based on religion.

You can't study history without reading about the effects of religion, both good and bad. While it's true that a great deal of bad things have been done in the name of religion over the centuries, there has been a great deal of good, too. Unfortunately, most history texts ignore the discussion of religion altogether. It's like trying to have an organic chemistry book that doesn't include any references to hydrogen.

Regarding the different treatment of Islam in some schools, I heard yesterday about a school teacher who encouraged kids to fast for up to 3 days to "to promote a greater understanding and empathy towards the Muslim religion.". Could you imagine the legitimate uproar had they requested the kids to pray to Jesus for 3 days to gain a greater understanding of Christianity?

I see a good deal of inconsistency with regard to religion in politics. There are many who cry out against the "Religious Right" because they disagree with their views. However, there is also a Religious Left in this country and they get a free pass. Just as those of the Left have the right to express their political opinions and hold office, so do those of the Right without being demonized.

Back in 1984 and 1988 when Jesse Jackson, a so-called minister, was running for president, he'd hold fund raisers in black churches throughout the South. No one said anything about that even though it was against federal campaign and tax laws. However, let religious conservatives hold a fund raiser and you'll see all sorts of objections.

The Constitution prohibits religious tests as a qualification for office in Article 6, paragraph 3. However, to hear some of the Democrats in Congress, the sole reason why they object to certain judicial nominations is that they disagree with the nominee's religious opinions. That, to me, is a religious test.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.