The conversation between human and AI assistant.
Is the phrase "separation of church and state" really in the United States constitution?
Ah, got it. So the Constitution didn't mandate the separation of church and state, but it did lay the groundwork for religious freedom and the separation of church and state?
That's correct. The main purpose of the First Amendment was to protect religious freedom and prevent the government from establishing a state religion. The idea of a "wall of separation" was a later interpretation of the First Amendment.