Generally the lawful precedence for the separation of church and state isn't derived directly from the Constitution but from the Federalist Papers, additional documentation created by the original drafters. Does you comment indicate you'd like to see more mixing of religion and politics? You have noticed the really bad effects that occur in the world and throughout history when that occurs right?

Actually, it's funny. Although an atheist myself I had a very interesting experience at a recent atheist convention talking to an author from Great Britain. Seems that in England, there is quite a bit of mixing of religion and politics. Religious studies are taught in public schools, the royalty is endowed by God. He contended though that putting religion out under the spotlight and educating children early about its history and evolution has had the effect of turning a great many away from it or of simply making the subject irrelevant. Of course those courses have to give the broad picture of religion in a nation so ethnically diverse so the children are not simply spoon-fed some sect's individual and sanitized take on the history.

Even though I applaud Newdow's convictions in this case, I often think the American atheists lose the overall big picture. They're willing to take cases like this one, that even in winning, they tend to look like silly whiners to the vast majority of religious folks in America.

I'd actually lean towards advancing religious studies in our public school systems as long as the courses are unbiased towards any particular sect. Include in those courses full disclosure of all the religious texts, including the absurd and violent passages that often get glossed over or omitted in parochial schools. Allow debates about creationism and the scientific evidence reinforcing theories of evolution, astronomy, planetary geology. Allow in the classes discussions about how the stories of the life of Jesus Christ often parallel much earlier pagan stories of virgin birth, crucifixions and resurrections. Tell the stories of Joseph Smith and his visits by the angel Moroni (didn't he invent the telegraph? lol) and the strange rules that came about which pretty much made any male into the equivalent of Hugh Hefner. Expose students to the religion of Buddhism which has no real God but instead is an exploration of one's inner self and human nature. Let Christian children learn that the Bible clearly says that only 144,000 souls have a place waiting for them in heaven and then go over the number of true believers in Christ that have existed since his supposed life.

Allow the reading of Mein Kampf and texts of speeches in the class and see how Hitler used the verses of the Bible to validate his ideal of a master race and the scourge of the Jews. Have extensive reading of the history of Middle East and how the Crusades changed that landscape and helped bring the chaos we see today.

So I say "Bring it on". Let's see how long our neo-cons and our Christian right handle the full light of reason, science and history shining on their beliefs they so want to force down our throats.