Resolved: Democracy is best upheld through strict seperation of church and state

If I may quote Jesus Christ "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God's the things that are God's" (New Testament, Mathew 22:21) This means that let Caesar, government do things that involve government; and let God, church, do unto things involving church. It is with this quote from the single most respected man in religion that I affirm the resolution. I'll start with valuing Democracy, it is specifically stated in the resolution and is therefore the clearest value. My critation to upheld democracy is religious freedom. Religious freedom is the basis of the American government and has basically made out government. Allen Jane once said, "History teaches us that men and women have lived and died when their religion was repressed or overwhelmed by their government - or if they did not fight, they did not support their government in times of crisis... Since it inception, the United States has never had a religious war despite divisive sectarian differences. And in time of crisis, minority religions have supported the government because it has, for the most part, maintained a position of neutrality among its many religious and denominations. This is because the 'wall' of religious freedom and separation of church and state that has caused all religious groups to be seen equally in the eyes of the law" It is through Religious Freedom I affirm the resolution. My first contention is history. Throughout all of history the combination of church and state that has caused tyranny, oppression, and war. Remember the 'Holy Wars'? Also, know that sine the beginning of documented history we have only been at peace 8% of the time. In addition, 96% of the time have these wars involved religion. Our country is the first the world has ever seen to have this much religious freedom and no church involvement in governmental decisions. Because of this, America has seen no 'Holy Wars' and the minority religious' rights have been protected more than any other country in the world. It is through history that I affirm the resolution. My second contention is the First Amendment of the Constitution, the first in the list of our natural born freedoms that must be protected by our government. Article 6, clause 3 of the Constitution states. "No religious test shall ever be required as qualification to any office or public trust in the United States" This clearly lays out strict separation of church and state. Don't trust my interpretation? The Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story ruled Article 6, Clause 3 as "To cut off forever every pretense of alliance between church and state in the National Government" So therefore to negate the resolution is to negate the U.S Constitution. The Constitution upholds the value of Democracy since it has help set up one of the most ideal Democracies in the world, and the Constitution therefore also then affirms the resolution. It is because of the Constitution that I affirm the resolution. My third and final contention is minority religious freedoms. As an Atheist, where are my rights in allowing church in government? If in America, where does glorifying that of Christianity not conflict with the rights of the fellow Atheist, Jew, or Hindu? It does not. Supporting the popular faith of governmental ideas attacks that of anyone else of a different faith, and thus leads to oppression and war. To uphold a Democracy, you must not violate the natural born right of religious freedom. It violates my right to believe as I wish. It because I respect minority beliefs and that of our individual rights that I affirm the resolution. To conclude, through the words of both the most popular church (Jesus) and through the foundation of a Democratic government (Constitution) agree for this resolution that I affirm it. It is through the prevention of several years of religious wars and oppression of rights and all history has taught I affirm the resolution. It is for that of individual religious freedoms I affirm the resolution. It for all these reasons, I affirm the resolution. Thank you.