[Egekrusher]

Seperation of Church and State was established when the U.S. was formed over 200 years ago, and with good reason. The Catholic Church had their hands in EVERYTHING from the government to whorehouses. If it made money, they were involved. Because of this power, they were able to persecute anyone who didn't follow their beliefs, leading to inquisitions. Inquisitions basically happened as follows:

1. If you don't follow their beliefs, they lock you up in a prison and torture you until you admit it.
2. Anyone in the public could accuse you of being a heretic (ie against their religion), which led to a lot of people being tortured over personal vendettas.
3. If you confess to being a heretic, and get branded as such (an upside down cross, usually on the palm of your right hand or, in extreme cases, on the forehead, burnt in by a metal rod with a cross on the end of it), then there's a small chance that they may let you live. You were better off dead, because after that, everyone was allowed to do anything they liked to you, legal or illegal. Most of these people turned up dead.
4. Most of the time, even if you confessed and "repented" for your sins, the only thing they did was kill you quickly. If you didn't confess, they would just torture you to death.

Inquisitions such as this happened for centuries on the European continent. This is what our forefathers were trying to escape.

This is also why it is SO IMPORTANT that the seperation of church and state be complete and whole. It is one of the founding principles of this country that those in power in religion are NOT in power in the government, and are not allowed to be involved with big business.