Torcaso v. Watkins

In Torcaso v. Watkins (1961) 367 U.S. 488, the court noted that neither a state nor the federal government can constitutionally "aid those religions based on a belief in the existence of God as against those religions founded on different beliefs." In a footnote the court observed, "Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism and others." ( Id. at p. 495, fn. 1181 S.Ct. at p. 1684.)