What is your understanding of?

While the words "Separation of Church and State" DO appear in the constitution of the former Soviet Union, they do NOT appear in the US Constitution.

Here is what the First Amendment to the US Constitution actually does say.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So where did the words "Separation of Church and State." come from? They can be traced back to a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote back in 1802.

In October 1801, the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut wrote to President Jefferson, and in their letter they voiced some concerns about Religious Freedom. On January 1, 1802 Jefferson wrote a letter to them in which he added the phrase "Separation of Church and State."

When you read the full letter, you will understand that Jefferson was simply underscoring the First Amendment as a guardian of the peoples religious freedom from government interference. Here is an excerpt:

"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State."

Jefferson simply quotes the First Amendment then uses a metaphor, the "wall", to separate the government from interfering with religious practice.

Notice that the First Amendment puts Restrictions only on the government, not the people!

The Warren Court re-interpreted the First Amendment thus putting the restrictions on the people.

When Thomas Jefferson wrote his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association he never intended the words "Separation of Church and State" to be taken out of context and used as a substitute for the First Amendment, but for all practical purposes is what the courts have done.

If actions speak stronger then words, it is interesting to note that 3 days after Jefferson wrote those words, he attended church in the largest congregation in North America at the time. This church held its weekly worship services on government property, in the House Chambers of the U.S. Capital Building. The wall of separation applies everywhere in the country even on government property , without government interference. This is how it is written in the Constitution, this is how Thomas Jefferson understood it from his letter and actions, and this is how the men who wrote the Constitution practiced it.

There are two parts to the First Amendment that refer to religion: the establishment clause and the free exercise clause. Today much is said about the establishment clause but there is very little mention of the free exercise clause.

"separation of church and state" is not written - it's an understanding we have. Those of us who read history books KNOW all too well how dangerous religion is - and you keep it out of government as best you can.

The First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

I understand it to mean that our government cannot establish and/or support any religion. The Founding Fathers were very aware of the evils spawned by the Church of England, which was established and supported by the English government.

The Constitution says "freedom of religion" which means the freedom to practice or not practice religion however you see fit without government interference.

How come "conservatives" who say they believe in freedom and limits of Federal power are all for the Federal government coming in and dictating what religion they practice (protestant christian?)

"In God We Trust" and "Under God" were both not there until the 1950s - it has nothing to do with the Founding Fathers and was put in their by Joe McCarthy, the biggest traitor to the Constitution this country has ever had.