Separation of Church and State [Meredith Aach, Week 11, Discussion]

So although we would all assume that we know how the separation of church and state came about I wanted to read a bit more on it because I thought it was really interesting. This one article: http://www.bc.edu/centers/boisi/meta-elements/pdf/bc_papers/BCP-ChurchState.pdf provides an interesting look into this concept.

It has seemed to be a puzzle to others around the world why the United States has separated church and state but yet "religious belief among Americans today is as vigorous, dynamic, and widespread as it ever has been". This article argues that "approximately 90% of Americans profess a belief in God, and religion remains a pervasive influence on American culture, politics, and public policy". Why has this come to be? I have read some different articles that argue 1 in 4 young Americans profess to believe in no God and to have no faith. So, I'm not sure how much to trust this article, but I would be interested to see what others have to say about this article.

Do you think we still uphold the principle today that human rights were given by God that they must be protected by a secular government whose powers are given by the consent of the governed? Essentially, God is acknowledged as the Creator of humankind and the source of "inalienable" rights, but the government is understood as not being Divine but rather--human. Is this still part of the American identity? What about the backlashes certain religious groups have today against the government, for policies concerning stem-cell research or abortion? How can these domestic political issues be understood in the context of America's founding, its history, and ideological foundations?

I'm not sure if this is coming off as a rant, but I thought it would be an interesting discussion!