Long before its inception.
Many, perhaps most, of the early European settlers came here for religious freedom. The separation of church and state protected their intellectual descendants from the moment the Bill of Rights became the Supreme Law of the Land and still does. While I am not a Christian, I am fully grateful for the freedom of religion that the USA was the first in World history to provide.
To all of the Christians on this BB, I express my best wishes for a Merry Christmas, etc.
To all of the BB participants, I wish a happy new year.