For decades, a growing narrative in American politics has insisted that the United States is fundamentally a secular institution in which religion must remain entirely separate from politics. The phrase “separation of church and state” is often invoked as though it demands the removal of religious influence from government, law, and education—leaving many Americans feeling that their deepest convictions are pushed aside. In practice, this aggressively secular interpretation misrepresents both the Constitution and the nation’s historical foundations, sidelining the values that have shaped our collective identity.

The Framers of the Constitution supported religious liberty and opposed the establishment of an official national church. Their experiences under the Church of England made clear the dangers of government coercion in matters of faith. The First Amendment, therefore, prohibited Congress from establishing a state religion while also protecting the free exercise of religion. That framework prevented government control over religion; it did not require religion to disappear from the American government.

From the earliest days of the republic, religious belief has remained deeply embedded in American institutions. Presidential oaths conclude with the phrase “so help me God.” The national motto reads “In God We Trust.” Congress begins sessions with a prayer led by a chaplain. Federal courts open proceedings with the declaration “God save the United States and this honorable court.”

These traditions do not represent constitutional violations. Instead, they reflect the moral and cultural framework that shaped the country’s founding.

Supreme Court jurisprudence on religion illustrates this balance between government neutrality and religious liberty. One of the most widely cited decisions is Engel v.........

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