One of the longest running urban legends is the belief that
separation of church and state is in the U.S. Constitution or
in a amendment. In truth, there are only two mentions of
religion in the Constitution. One referring to the date ("year
of our Lord") and the other that religion is not a qualification
for holding an office.

The First Amendment, guaranteeing freedom of religion, says
this: ''Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ''. No other
Amendments refer to religion.

So where did this belief that the U.S. Constitution dictates
separation of Church and State come from?

It was actually born of perhaps one of the earliest urban rumors.
A Baptist congregation in Danbury, Connecticut, angered
on a rumor that Congress was going to establish a national
religion, received a private letter, in response, from Thomas
Jefferson, in January, 1802 explaining that this would violate
the Constitution which provides a wall separating Church and
State.