Political initiatives on the federal and state levels are asking citizens and lawmakers to adopt a more pragmatic concept of what "separation of church and state" really means.

Most recently, a package of bills passed by the state Senate - and expected not to be contested by Gov. Jennifer Granholm - opens the doors for state scholarships to finally be allotted for theology, divinity and religious studies majors. Michigan legislators are asked: Is the state legislative body respecting an establishment of religion via these bills?

In a highly literal interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, yes, the legislation could be seen as a violation of the First Amendment. In the most elementary rationalization of this bill package, yes, government money would be spent on the education of future religious leaders.

But with objective reasoning, it is clear that purpose lies in providing a more complete education for tomorrow's leaders than it does in funneling government money to a specific church. The opportunity for college students studying religion - which includes the history and social adaptations of religious study, not solely training for clergy - to be eligible for the same forms of aid as their peers is just and overdue. College students at private, religious-based universities and colleges in Michigan have prolonged the declaration of their theologically based majors by means of financial necessity.

Once a college student declares his or her course of study to have a theological tint, the aid he or she was previously open to - the Michigan Merit Award scholarship, for example - vanishes on grounds of secularity. These students are neither manipulative nor misleading in their efforts to absorb state scholarships. They instead are rightfully deserving of such scholarship money, validated by equal opportunity.

To be sure, though, the legislation is urged to maintain a separation of church and state. Certainty that the bill package is not in violation of the First Amendment and that it is unable to be corroborated by other amendments to the Constitution is a necessity of all legislation, regardless of intent.

The First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The Michigan legislation is not respecting any one distinguishable faith with these pending bills, nor should it. Equal opportunity is the primary intent.

Faith-based initiatives are a current mandate in Washington, D.C., and are, as a result, open to the same scrutiny.

But while proposals call for priority to social services with a religious delivery, giving college students equal opportunity to finish college, despite their major, is sensible, devoid of "respecting an establishment of religion."

Michigan lawmakers are not putting a cross, Star of David or a Crescent on the state seal with this matter of legislation. They are using legislative prudence to ensure the future leaders of America are able to finish college - and keep the secularity of the Constitution soundly intact.