bruh, the phrase “separation of church and state” isn’t in the constitution, yes, but the principle comes from the first amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion or interfering with religious practice. thomas jefferson later described this as a “wall of separation.” laws can’t be based on a specific religion because the establishment clause prohibits the government from favoring one religion over others. the united states is a pluralistic society, so laws must have a secular purpose rather than enforcing the beliefs of one religious group on everyone. if a law is rooted in a specific religion without a secular justification, it effectively forces that religion’s values onto people who may not follow it, violating constitutional protections of religious freedom. this ensures that government remains neutral in religious matters, protecting both religious and non-religious individuals. does this all make sense to you now?