seperation of church and state

One of the best ideas to come along in all of human history. An ideal in which religion and government are seperated and kept at arm's length from each other. A form of government in which the people's free exercise of religion is guaranteed, but the religious fanatics have no power to harm others. An ideal that is under attack at all times from religious extremists - who seek to destroy it, not out of any sense of piety, but in order to dominate and control other human beings.