The Ten Commandments is more than just some "religious" symbol...it is the very foundation of our law. And not just of "our" law...the United States...but in the laws of every country for I no of no country that condones murder or theft.
The purpose is separating "church and state" was not to deny God, but ensure that people were not pursecuted because of their religious choices, such as they were during the time of the Spanish Inquisition.
I've seen many changes over the last forty years and while some have been good...I see us becoming less and less a democracy and more of a police state and I dread the direction we are heading.