SEPERATION of church and state.
NOT removal of church FROM state.
NOT exclusion of churches with opposing views.
In this country you have the right to believe or disbelieve what ever your heart desires, just don't take other peoples views away from them, and don't tie someone down and force them to believe as you.

If it actually existed, it would be very helpful.

  Tough to rate something that does not exist- at least the way this phrase is (mis)used.

"Congress shall pass no law respecting the establishment of a religion or abridging the free excerise thereof..." This means what it says and nothing more. It does not mean that there can be no prayer in schools, nativity scenes on courthouse steps, etc. Jefferson used this term one time in a private letter- it appears NOWHERE in the US Constitution.

<<< Most Americans have been aware that religious right Republicans have become extremely active politically in the last twenty years. But because we're Americans and we're mostly tolerant of other people's religious beliefs, their rise to power hasn't really troubled us. We should be troubled. There is now overwhelming evidence that conservative Christians set out to takeover the government of the United States and impose their culture and values upon all Americans. >>>

fit has to resort to lies to make a (choke) point.

 Sometimes the ACLU  is a bit overzealous in their efforts, but preventing government from promoting particular religions is a worthy cause. If a sect wants public displays of their religious symbols, they should be (and are) free to mount them on private property. If individuals wish to pray to their particular God or gods, that should be (and is) their right, but when pressure to participate in the prayers of a majority religion is brought to bear on non-believers, the state has overstepped its bounds and must be reined in.

<<< Most Americans have been aware that religious right Republicans have become extremely active politically in the last twenty years. But because we're Americans and we're mostly tolerant of other people's religious beliefs, their rise to power hasn't really troubled us. We should be troubled. There is now overwhelming evidence that conservative Christians set out to takeover the government of the United States and impose their culture and values upon all Americans.  >>>

UPDATE

1.  I don't want anyone to try to force, or even persuade, me to believe in any religion.  Religious freedom is freedom of religion and freedom from religion.  You believe whatever you want, and I'll do the same.

2.  I don't want anyone to place their religious symbols on or in anything I helped pay for with my taxes, anymore than I would want or allow them to place those symbols on my house or a bumper sticker on my car.

3.  I'll leave you alone to gather with others who have your religious beliefs, but keep it out of my face.  I've been educated in and about religion, and I've made up my own mind about things.  Don't come knocking on my door with religious pamphlets.  Don't try to lobby my political representatives to adopt your religious beliefs in any form.  I know some of you believe in being evangelical, but if you intrude into my space and I warn you off, you'd better scram. Should you try to bring your religion into my life, I'll hunt you down and stamp you out through lawsuits and whatever other legal means are at my disposal.  I will continue our long tradition of fighting for freedom, including freedom from religion. There can be and will be a separation of church and state, even if we're not there yet.

4.  Let's get in straight for once and all:  The Constitution, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, does separate church and state, or, more accurately, mandates government neutrality toward religion.  See my review here.  I don't care to argue about whether the framers of our Constitution were Christians, Holy Rollers, or snake handlers.  That's our law now, and we're going to abide by it.  Separation of church and state is one of those compromises made so we can have a workable political system, and since we're all good constitutionalists, we should do our best to make sure it works well.  If you don't like it, go somewhere else to practice your religion.

I would agree with the concept as long as it works both ways. Unfortunately, the defenders of the separation are only concerned with the voice of the majority of the American people who demand freedom of expression of beliefs, while that anti social individuals and especially the ACLU are advocating the silencing of any expression of religious matters in the public domain. Yet, there can never be such a thing as separation of Church and State for a simple reason: many politicians and government officials are religious people and you can't demand to leave religion at home, while religious people are citizens with the same rights as anyone else to stick their noses into any political issue, and you can't demand them to leave political at home.

America was established on clear and sound Judeo-Christian principles of faith. No matter how hard liberals and enemies of America, both foreign and domestic try to twist it and distort it, it is an undeniable historical truth.

Its an important part of the American conception of religious freedom. The government can't avoid entanglement, nor should it, a balance is in place but I think its ridiculous that a kid can't utter the "J" word in school and not expect the ACLU to come busting down their door.

Direct quote from the first amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..." Basically is says that the government will not create laws that would establish one religion for the whole country; nor any laws that would restrict people from choosing they're own. Personally, I like that idea.

Presumably, a centuries old conspiracy has exposed generations thoroughly to God's name in currency and in the Pledge of Allegiance in order to impose theology subrepticiously into American life and subvert the separation of Church and State. And yet, it seems to have been a miscalculation: from all evidence in the quotidian, you'd have to admit that, by and large, the attempt has failed most resoundingly.

If church and state are separated then howcome the words "In god we trust" are on all legal currency? and why is gods name mentioned in the pledge of allegiance?

Often misused, abused or used when it does not apply or is not appropriate.

If only it were the case.

I am a Christian. I am aware that the freedoms that allow me to practice Christianity also allow others not to.
Most Christians I know quite stupidly follow the pagan Christian right propaganda, not realizing that such things as prayer and posting the ten commandments in schools is a nightmare for Christianity. Any laws that would allow prayer would also allow teachers to lead kids in muslim, JW, budhist, or satanic religious rituals.
The same applies to the Ten Commandments in schools. Any law that would allow the Ten Commandments on a school wall would, by constitutional right allow a stone dick in the school yard.
Be careful what you ask for.

Absolutely necessary to protecting both government and religion from the other's problems. It is actually mentioned in the Constitution on the first line of the First Amendment which states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,". Is that so ambiguous?

A good thing for both church AND state. Unfortunately, it gets a bit muddled on both ends more often than not. The problem isn't really what people believe or don't believe though. Like so many other aspects of human interaction the problems boil down to the control freaks and power mongers who forever spoil the peace for the rest of us. Dumb bastards.

The Separation of Church and State is a good thing. It's what keeps us from becoming a theocracy. It's a concept that's not meant to eliminate Christian influence in the public square, as it has been used at times, but to protect the church from being controlled by the state and the state from being conrolled by the church. We have seen the effects of nations and states that govern themselves by the precepts of a certain religion. The rights of people who practice other religions are taken away - sometimes even repressed - in favor of whichever religion the state practices. The Founding Fathers themselves came from a country that had established a national church. Though rights were not taken away from those who practiced other religions, non-practicing citizens were ostracized and treated with disdain for their beliefs. The truth is that we aren't a Christian nation. That may or may not have been true when our country was first formed, but in the melting-pot we are today, it's not accurate. There are many religions that are practiced by the citizens of our country, and they deserve religious freedom just as much as Christians. The Separation of Church and State ensures that. It simply is not true that church and state separation has taken away rights from Christians. The religions in this country are blessed with rights that would be unthinkable in some countries in the world. We should be glad that the Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, provided for church/state separation. It protects our rights and freedoms that are guaranteed in the Constitution.

Trying to be fair, I'll note that the concept of separation of church and state itself is not that frivilous. What is, however, is the way so many (or few actually) are able to create controversy where one does not lie. The recent incident in Los Cruces, New Mexico where three or four atheists are claiming that whenever the city's symbol come into their line of sight they become very angry and disturbed is not the first of its kind. If America were such a captive to Christianity that it was in danger of becoming a theocracy (as the ACLU and others contend) why didn't our country, courthouses, townhalls and city parks foster religious battles between religions? Religious harmony so desired cannot be obtained through lawsuits that would be laughable were they not so disturbing.

When the "Church",or any religious entity,controls society you end up with persecution and totalitarianism.If you like the idea,look at Saudi Arabia,where it is illegal to be Christian or Jewish.

It is very helpful that we are given freedoms in this country. Our society would not be as great if the individuals were forced to belong to a government controlled religion.

History is littered with cultures that have failed to understand this principle that is so painfully obvious to anyone with two neurons in his or her head. . .

The instrument has yet to be invented that can measure the societal importance of this concept. Without it, a backwards oppressiveness trickles into the other-minded populace, and the theocratic "solution" to the inevitable unrest has historically been violent. Paid a brickload of lip service here in the States, with the current administration doing its knuckle-dragging best to take a pick axe to the foundational mortar (four billion dollars of "faith-based" taxpayer money pissed and spittooned away.....and counting!). Here's a doff of the hat to the millions of theists and nontheists who tirelessly contribute their time, their passion, and their resourcefulness to the preservation and exportation of this centuries-old idea that embodies genuine equity in governance.

Of course it's helpful. Imagine an entire world made up of countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, or the former Taliban Afghanistan.

A silly, fictional concept, not found in the US Constitution, employed by liberal partisans, in an effort to remove all things of a religious nature from American Society. SILLY UPDATE: What bill was proposed in the US Congress (either house) to become law establishing a national religion? They all have id numbers, I must have missed it. If you say that it is unconstitutional to print "In God We Trust" on our money, wouldn't that be an endorsement of atheism, and a restriction of free religious expression?

What is primarily separating us from Iraq and Iran. The value is almost too substantial to calculate. There is no person as intolerant as one who is convinced he is acting upon God's will.

That's right. Myths have no place in the government based in reality.