Is There Really No Wall of Separation?
I n a 2010 debate between Delaware Senate candidates Chris Coons (D) and Christine O’Donnell (R) there was a disagreement concerning schools being permitted to teach creationism as a competing theory to evolution. Coons made the argument that the First Amendment has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to imply separation of church and state. O’Donnell interrupted and the following was the exchange: O'DONNELL: "Let me just clarify, you're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?" COONS: "'Government shall make no establishment of religion'" O'DONNELL: "That's in the First Amendment?" I’m conservative, a Christian, and I voted Republican straight down the ticket in the last election, but I’ve got something to say to my fellow conservatives. When we become so focused on winning the argument that we fail to consider what we’re saying, we are in danger of losing the freedoms we hope to ...