Ending the Church-State debate

"the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion..."
-from Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796 and ratified without debate by the U.S. Senate June 10, 1797.
Full treaty text: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm#art11

The authorship of this text is often ascribed to either George Washington or John Adams by history, law or philosophy scholars. Example and bibliography: http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/quotes_founders.html
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/quotes_appendix.html

Read a concise, masterful dissection of this debate and the place of this document in it in the December 2005 issue of Mother Jones:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/12/great_debate.html

Finally, in the holiday spirit, think about buying a super-bargain ($10!!!) subscription to this awesome publication for a friend or family member (disclaimer: I have no ties whatsoever, financial or otherwise - except as a loyal subscriber - to Mother Jones): http://www.motherjones.com/subscribe/

May truth find you ever hungry for more,

Dana