Anyone else of the opinion that our country was founded on the premise of freedom of religion, but not freedom from religion?
You can't have religious freedom, if you don't have freedom from religion. If a religion you don't agree with is taught to your children, or it's symbols are placed in the public places you fund with your taxes, then you are having religion forced on you, and it inhibits your freedom to practice a religion you choose, or to practice no religion.
It was founded upon both. You have the right to practice the religion of your choice so long as it does not endanger or interfere in the lives of others.
You also have the right to NOT practice a religion if you so choose. And you have the right to not have religion forced upon you in the public square. This means that no one can force you to patronize a business or attend a public gathering in which specific religious views are being enacted and/or expressed. You have every right to abstain without fear of recourse.
The Bill of Rights simply lists a series of things that the federal government shouldn't do. One of which was that the government couldn't designate a state sponsored religion, and hence discriminate against members of another sect or creed.
Remember, Rhode Island was established by a guy who had been thrown out of Massachusetts because of his religious views, and it then became a haven for Baptists, Quakers, Jews and other persecuted religious minorities. The Founders were well aware of the problems of Government and Church being in each others pocket.
On the other hand, I don't think any of them doubted that there was a creator. Or, at least, would have voiced any of those doubts.
The only reference to religion in the un-amended Constitution is in Article 6, ". . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." That pretty much speaks to a freedom from religion, doesn't it?
Furthermore, for me to have freedom of MY religion, then I must have freedom from YOUR religion.
Whew! Another one of those questions.