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[–] iamjanesleftnipple 2 points 3 points (+5|-2) ago 

It does not prohibit states, counties, or local municipalities from doing so,

You apparently haven't heard of the Supremacy Clause, which does exactly what you claim can't happen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supremacy_Clause

The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution (Article VI, Clause 2) establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties made under its authority, constitute the supreme law of the land.[1] It provides that state courts are bound by the supreme law; in case of conflict between federal and state law, the federal law must be applied.

IE, the State cannot make a religion, that state means Federal, State, Counties, Local, etc. It goes from the top all the way down.

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[–] fuck_communism 2 points 1 point (+3|-2) ago  (edited ago)

The Establishment Clause prevents the United States Congress from passing laws with respect to the establishment of religion. As a result, there are no Federal laws with respect to the establishment of religion (I am ignoring subsequent Supreme Court interpretations because we are discussing the constitution, not those interpretations). Therefore, the Supremacy Clause does not come into play. Example: There is no Federal law prohibiting states from conducting lotteries, so states are free to decide whether or not to enact the idiot tax - the Supremacy Clause is immaterial. If Congress passed, and the President signed into law, a bill prohibiting lotteries in the United States, then the Supremacy Clause would come into play, and state lotteries would be illegal.

If, instead of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ..." the Establishment Clause read "The United States shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ..." you would be correct.

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[–] iamjanesleftnipple 1 point 2 points (+3|-1) ago 

Therefore, the Supremacy Clause does not come into play.

Except once again, you're wrong, thanks to the Supreme Court: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/330/1.html

Here's the summary: The Supreme Court made clear in a landmark ruling in 1947 that the Establishment Clause does apply to states – and they have underscored this holding repeatedly since then.

This is the First Amendment via the Supremacy Clause.

So to sum up, because it's all been said:

  1. The freedom of religion and freedom from religion are both enshrined in the Constitution
  2. It falls from the federal level down all the way to local municipality
  3. We should all be thankful the founding fathers thought this through and made it easy enough to understand so we can still apply it today.

Matter put to rest, nice discussion, good night.