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How do contemporary theorists view the relationship between religion and the constitutional order? As expected, there is considerable disagreement about the character of this relationship. These different conclusions fall into three categories. One supposes that religion was, and remains, hitched closely to American constitutionalism. Another disagrees, maintaining that the very source of liberal constitutionalism is the realization of a need for not only a deep separation of church and state, but religion from public life. A third group argues that the Founding generation did not fully resolve the tension between religion and liberalism, establishing institutions that would allow future generations to give weight to each depending on circumstances. In short, they left it to others to work out, and this constitutional reconciliation of the two has been one of the driving forces in American political history. Ultimately, this review will be supplemented by a consideration of contemporary conclusions in light of Christian thought and classical liberal theory. In my conclusion here, I will offer some initial suggestions about how each of these theories might be in need of minor corrections. Generally speaking, they result from a misunderstanding of the commitments of American liberalism; how it protects rights, and what its moral commitments are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]