It has been my own observation that anti-separation of church and state groups and leaders tend to have a comon root in David Barton.  When I have browsed through theocratic booths at religious right gatherings, I noted that people like Peter Marshall Jr. and various theocratic groups base their theories about America's origins on Barton's research.  Americans United for Separation of Church and State has called Barton the most prominent instructor of the revision of history regarding this matter.1
     I watched in person as Barton delivered his slick presentation on the orgins of the republic. He clicks on synchronized overhead projections timed to correlate with his verbal assualt on separation.  David claimed at the meeting that just about all the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Christians with many of them being ministers.  He said half the original Congress were pastors. He commented that he has looked and not found separation in The Constitution. He them revealed he has been solicited to help rewrite Texas school books regarding American history.2
     Barton is a prime mover among the religious right with his attacks on separation. James Kennedy, the nationally known TV preacher, used Barton's quotes in his advancement of the idea of shelving the bad idea of separation.  David's videos are a regular in church viewings across the South.  He speaks at large churches as an invited expert and holds many regional rallies in larger cities.3
     Barton's influence is growing and his part on the Republican Platform Committee has brought him further attention. One Texas school board race in Dallas credits Barton's writings for the controversial board member's positions.4
     David wants to have a partisan influence in his home state sending out letters encouraging followers to support judges for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.5
     Barton's fame has grown with the recent court rulings on school prayer.  Barton has claimed these rulings are unconstitutional and threaten individual freedoms.  In his home state, where football games are routinely opened by a public prayer, the writer has gained a ground swell of followers.
     The problem with Barton's "research" is that noted historians claim it is bad history, bad Constitutional law and bad legal advice.  Barton's training consists of being trained to be a math teacher at Oral Roberts University.  Professor Mark Whitten, who is also a Baptsit minister, claims that Barton's prayer-meeting story about the founding fathers and the Constitution is a myth.6  Mark has written a book about such matters.
     As a matter of observation, accepting Barton's conclusions about church and state refutes just about every secular and religious universities' conclusions about American history. It is as if everyone else got it wrong, but Barton alone discovered the real truth of
American's Christian heritage.  Barton personally claims the vast majority of founding citizens were active church members, whenever my own inquiries have brought up figures of barely %30.  Some have surmised that less than %5 of the citizens had much interest in church attendance during this period.
     Americans United has publishsed a sheet refuting much of the writer's conclusions.  Such as; The idea that the wall was intended by Jefferson to be one directional.  Actually, Jefferson wanted the wall to apply to both parties.  While David says most of the founding fathers were evangelical, most were members of the Church of England.  Barton claims the First Amendment was only meant to prohibit the establishment of a national church. Actually, the founders meant much more than that ccording to AU.  Barton falsely charges that school religous practices were only challenged after court rulings in the early sixities.  This charge is not accurate.  Before this time schools had outlawed forced religious practices and courts had upheld separation.  The mail out also lists several quotes from Barton's works, that Barton himself had to refute as inaccuate.7
     The Baptist Joint Committee, a separation advocate in Washington D. C. , has published a fact sheet refuting the ORU graduate's conclusions.  The BJC charges that Barton promotes a form of dualism that denies government ability to remain neutral in matters of relgion.8
     Nicholas Miller, an attorney in the nation's capitol, has written a report attacking the Texan's conclusions.  Among his observations are the following; Barton denies that separation is  in the Constitution.  Separation is a myth, since it is implied, says Barton.  Miller refutes this.  Another myth is the idea that Jefferson used a hasty metaphor in describing the wall of separation.  The next myth is that the wall was one sided.  The myth of the national church and the uniforminty of the founders is attacked.  Miller lists the myth Barton advances about an uchanging Constitition. The final myth described is the myth that Christianity is dependent on civil powers.9
     In Barton's best seller, THE MYTH OF SEPARATION, there are some alarming statements presented to the reader.  David believes that Christians were the ones who were intended to hold public office.  pg. 26  Thus , Jews and other sects were not allowed to serve as elected officials.  Contrary to traditional viewpoints, like Dr. Estep's in REVOLUTION WITHIN THE REVOLUTION, Christianity was the official religion and other faiths were not given the freedom to worship in the nation. pg. 39  Separation applied mostly to denominational differences.  pg. 43  A summary of the work is found in the quote on page 46, "The doctrine of separation of church and state is absurd."  The author claims that general Christianity is the established religon of the country.  pg. 64  The most important political institution in the nation after 50 years was Christianity.  pg. 135  Barton advances a theocracy position as that of the founding fathers. He says that early court rulings made Christianity the official faith of the nation.  pg. 47  His conclusion on how to restore America to its original intent is to do it politically. He wants the church to become active in politics at the local level.  pg. 266 Barton became vice chair of the GOP in Texas.  His friend, Ralph Reed, reached similar heights of power in Gerogia.