Edd Doerr

Edd Doerr is president of the American Humanist Association and Americans for Religious Liberty. In the following viewpoint, Doerr argues that the separation of government and religion is essential to a free and democratic society. The government should not favor any one religion; nor should it provide nonpreferential aid to all religions. If the wall of separation between church and state were to break down, Doerr contends, sectarian interests could use the government to impose their beliefs on the population.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Doerr, when and by whom was the phrase “a wall of separation between Church and State” first coined?
2. According to Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, quoted by the author, what is the intention of the “establishment of religion” clause...