@mccracal.
You made some very good points, but the invoking of the so-called separation of church and state always rubs me wrong as it is no where in the Constitution. The 1st amendment guarantees the freedom to practice your religion, not freedom from religion. Atheism and secular humanism are every bit as much a "religion" as Christianity or Hinduism. Religion is just another name for your world view. And your world view/religion necessarily infuses your whole life and cannot be kept in a little box at home when you walk out the door, it is an integral part of who you are. But that does not mean you should beat other people over the head with it - that is a tactic I have never considered persuasive. Live your life so that hopefully others might be drawn to ask about what gives you strength or peace or contentment or whatever.
I think you misunderstood my point about separation of church and state; I know that exact phrasing isn't in the constitution, but rather in letters that Jefferson wrote. However, the essence of the wording of the phrase in the 1st Amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" carries the same meaning, which is why the courts have repeatedly ruled against religion in a places such as public schools. And it personally rubs me the wrong way when people say that Atheism is a religion- that's like calling not-stamp collecting a hobby, or calling bald a hairstyle. Religion is certainly a complicated word to define, but it almost always has an inherently spiritual aspect of it. I think religious beliefs are too complicated to simply label as a "worldview"; it's kind of a whole big conglomerate of culture, morals, ethics, etc.I do, however, completely agree with your point about living your life in such a way that inspires others.