First Freedom First: A Citizen's Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State

The United States is the most religiously diverse nation in the world, due in large part to the clauses of the First Amendment that guarantee freedom for and from religion. But as we debate displaying Christmas trees at city hall and the Ten Commandments in the courthouse, we must ask: in what other ways is our religious liberty being compromised.

In First Freedom First, with clear language and recognizable examples, two of the most trusted voices on church-state separation address head-on the many areas where religion and politics overlap, with consequences for all Americans. This book is for anyone concerned about such issues as:

* Churches hosting politicians and insisting they give testaments of their faith
* Science teachers questioning the theory of evolution in their public school classrooms
* Public religious debates on private issues involving end-of-life decisions and reproductive choices
* Federal funding for religious organizations, including those that discriminate openly

With religion a constant presence in political discussions, First Freedom First offers practical and easy ways to remind our leaders and our community of the importance of keeping religion and politics separate, for the sake of both institutions.

Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy is the president of The Interfaith Alliance and host of State of Belief, a national radio show. He resides in Monroe, Louisiana, and Alexandria, Virginia. Rev. Barry W. Lynn is the executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State; he lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland. First Freedom First is a partnership of their two organizations.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn is executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C.