Christianity was a huge part of Early America because there were no large amount of outsiders. The founding fathers were Christian. No one was trying to tell them they could not express their faith. Therefore, they quoted the Bible a lot and promoted the teachings of Christianity. However, I don't think they wanted to force everybody to abide by the laws of the Bible. Many early laws may have been influenced by Christianity, but in today's world there is a large variety of religions in America. Not schools or law should promote any one religion or teach any one religion as true today. They should teach the beliefs of many religions so as to educate us to multiple cultures. However, separation of church and state is important to the freedom of our nation (and Canada, since it's like right there on top of us, like a hat). Maybe we shouldn't suppress religion, though. I mean, pretend it's not there until you are in church, but... I need to get off to school now. Don't want to be late.

How did the founders promote Christianity?

The 10 commandments is a basic outline for the laws they created. Obviously, adultery isn't illegal, because that would be insane to regulate and it's not the governments business to do so. But thou shall not kill, steal, lie, love and respect thy neighbors/parents. I'm not agreeing that this should be a "Christian" nation, I'm just playing devils advocate here. They wanted a free country of decent men. But for a civilized people, things such as not killing each other, should be common sense.

What laws?

Our country was established on many Christian ideals, no argument from me. I also know many people came here to escape religious persecution.

This is obvious in the first amendment -Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Several states prohibited the support of religion (though many were Christian and believed others should be as well)
There is no way to be fair to all, if preference is given to only one. It would have been ludacris for people to leave America to avoid persecution (considering that's why they came) and so intelligently they found it wise to do what they had.

Our forefathers were not unreligious, or anti-religious, many quite the contrary. What they were aiming for was tolerance. People, able to be themselves, living with other real people.

Tolerance is what we need to learn.

How does that change the words of the Constitution?

That was in the report of the minority, dude. It was rejected by the House.

There weren't any public schools at the time the Constitution was made.

How does that give the government jurisdiction over religion?

The nation's government was established by the Constitution. The only Christian idea I see in the Constitution is the liberal Protestant idea that the civil magistrate hath no authority over purely sacred things.

Even if there was no First Amendment, the Constitution would still grant the government no power over religion.

Huh?

Huh?

The Constitution didn't establish religious tolerance. It established absolute religious freedom.

James Madison would kick your ass for saying that, just like he jumped on George Mason in 1777.

Just by making the statements that they made that AJ quoted. They didn't try to incorporate religious beliefs into the Constitution. Now, as far as the ten commandments go, those are mostly universal moral guidelines. That isn't the sole reason murder is illegal (I'm not saying anyone here said it was the reason, but I am going to comment on the commandments and law). Basically, most people find something wrong with things like lying, killing, stealing, adultery, and all that. Not all of the commandments make good laws for a free nation (such as the one about not worshiping other gods) but most are laws almost everywhere you go and find civilization.

Cherish, not tolerate.

That is a valid point. There are no specific laws in the Constitution. Only powers granted and denied to the branches of government.