When politics and religion travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way. The movement becomes headlong -- faster and faster and faster. They put aside all thought of obstacles and forget that a precipice does not show itself to the man in a blind rush until it's too late.

Frank Herbert
Dune (1965)

Although they had other reasons for doing so, the founders were wise to put into place structural dividers to keep religion out of our government. It's unfortunate, and very dangerous, that the Radical Right is working as hard as it can to break down those barriers.