Association—“separation of church and state”

What name, which has been so attached, do you most associate with the phrase “separation of church and state?”

 

Tom Jefferson, Mad O'Hair, and Roger Williams share the lead? It's hard to tell whether that's more like the Roman Triumvariate or the Three Stooges.

 

Yes.
Hugo Black was the U.S. Supreme Court Justice who wrote an opinion in the late 40's that tried to comprehensively explain the practical meaning of government non-establishment of religion and free exercise of religion.
James Dunn was a longtime president of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs [now BJC on Religious Liberty] who is now retired from that position, but still lectures and writes on the subject with an aggressive style.
John Leland was a Baptist minister in 18th and 19th century, strongly supportive of the concept that "the notion of a Christian Commonwealth should be forever exploded," as a summary of his thought.
Barry Lynn is the Executive President of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, frequently gives opinions and interviews in support of a 'strict separation' policy.
James Madison was 4th President of the U.S.A. (following Jefferson, and considered Jefferson's protege), and the principle writer of the U.S. Constitution. As President he notedly opposed declaring 'Days of Prayer.'
Michael Newdow, atheist, filed suit to keep his daughter's school, and all U.S. public schools, from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag as long as the Pledge contains the words, "...under God..." which were inserted in the Cold War era of 1954.
Madalyn Murray O'Hair was founder of the American Atheist Associataion after her lawsuit to stop Bible readings in her son's public school was merged with a similar case and was successful. She was known for her rude and brash demeanor in promoting atheism and mocking belief in a deity, was accused of mishandling funds for her organization, and was murdered in 1995 (her death was a mystery until her body was found a few years later).
Roger Williams was a colonist in early Massachussetts, was expelled from the colony for opposing the theocracy established by the colonial government there, and he fled and founded the new colony of Rhode Island, which proclaimed religious freedom for all. He was fanatical and undiplomatic, changing churches several times as they changed or new ones emerged; but he believed that any unifying of church and civil government would corrupt the church