Two different "monsters" so to speak.

England and Europe have had a much longer history dealing with the adverse effects of theocracy. The United States was an attempt to break that cycle. But, besides the wise founders who saw the need to seperate religion from goverment, the population haddent caught up with them, so in order to stay in power, like any politician, they had to appeal.

As far as today is concerned. The difference is England reached its "Epifany" long ago and most of America has not. There are still those who would object to a "comparative religion" course in public high schools and grade schools.

The problem is that we have had a history of Christianity dominating what it means to be an American. Be they Catholic or Baptist or Morman all these groups, who even dissagree with each other on issues of left and right, still think that Jesus(left or right|) owns the right to interpret our constitution.

Europe has had a much longer history dealing with religious opression. They are now to the point where they can compair and let people chose on their own. Americans both the religious left and the religious right are a predominant majority that still thinks that they are the only people intiltled to "sit in the drivers seat".

In laymens terms. It would be nice if Americans were ready for that. But they arnt. In our current state I wouldnt trust, lets say, a  Evangelical teacher in a public school in South Carolina to teach a "comparitive religion" class. Nor would that same teacher trust a "Yankey Jew" to teach their kid.

There have been points in our history where we have come close to breaking those berriors. Somehow though, we take two steps back and normally it is because some zealous nut doesnt want to consider that others outside their religion or sect exist.

I can only speek for America here. Right now, the only fair thing I see everybody agreeing to is to "leave it at the door". Just as a Christian would not want a teacher standing in front of a class here saying "God is just pretend". We dont like the fact that a god is asserted every moring in a pledge. 

Europe and Cannada have matured in alot of ways whereas this country is still stuck on 'ME ME ME ME ME ME ME". In other ways though I wouldnt move to Cannada or England because some of their laws would prevent me from blaspheming or criticising people.

Bottem line, America is just not ready for that sort of thing. If peace is to be had here we still have to maintain it by accepting that there are things that are yours, things that are mine, and things that are ours. Most Christians on the left and right seem to think that what is OURS(government) somehow gives them the right to stick us(not just atheists) at the back of the bus.

Mind you not all of America, and not all Americans view the Constitution as Jesus written, but far too many do and we still havent broken that fallacy.