The phrase 'separation of church and state' does not appear in the Constitution, and the Founding Fathers did not oppose religion in American culture. The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of allowing a peace cross to remain on public land.
Key Points
The phrase 'separation of church and state' is not in the Constitution
The 18th-century writers openly advocated for a union between church and state
The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of a peace cross to remain on public land
Pros
The Constitution does not banish religion from the public square
The Founding Fathers did not believe in a union between church and state
Cons
Challenges arise in determining the religious nature of symbols in public spaces