Deep Conviction
True Stories of Ordinary Americans Fighting for the Freedom to Live Their Beliefs
by Steven T. Collis
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Pub Date Jun 04 2019 | Archive Date Jun 11 2019
Shadow Mountain Publishing | Shadow Mountain
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Description
In 1813, a Catholic priest in New York City faced prison after a grand jury subpoenaed him for refusing to divulge the identity of a jewelry thief who admitted to the crime during the sacrament of confession.
In 1959, an atheist in Maryland was forced to choose between his job and his beliefs when the state required him, as part of the hiring process, to sign an oath that said he believed in God. The United States Supreme Court would decide his fate.
In 1989, a Klamath Indian man walked into the highest court of our nation to fight for the right to practice the central sacrament of the Native American Church after the state of Oregon had declared it illegal.
And, finally, in 2017, a Christian baker and a gay couple took their cases to the United States Supreme Court after the baker declined to create a custom wedding cake to celebrate the couple’s same-sex marriage, fearing it would violate his duty to God.
Chosen for their universality and for the broad principles they represent, these true stories reflect the diversity of beliefs in the United States, the conflicts between religious freedom and other interests, the perils individuals face when their right to live their beliefs is threatened, and the genius of America’s promise of religious liberty for all.
Advance Praise
"Religious freedom is a pillar of the First Amendment of the Constitution, and yet it is a right that is often over-simplified, misconstrued, and contested. Collis, a professor of law and practicing lawyer specializing in religious liberty, tackles this difficult topic through four different and instructive examples from different eras in American history. While the situations are varied, each reveals the role that power plays in applying the law and that the nature and dynamics of social mores and political clout change over time. Collis does a superb job of presenting these cases clearly and thoroughly and without strong bias, focusing on the letter of the law and its implications. While legalese is not completely absent, this is truly an accessible and fascinating narrative for all readers interested in how diverse battles over First Amendment rights and religious freedom have shaped people's lives and the nation at large."—Booklist
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781629725536 |
PRICE | $24.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 352 |
Featured Reviews
#Deep Conviction. #NetGalley
Four engaging true stories, about legal situations, concerning religious preferences. Steven Collis, knows just how to keep the wrds flowing, I really liked his writing style. Each story is unique and told in such a way, that it kept me capdivated.
. I realy liked this quote: The rule regarding religious freedom should be a constant fixture in our constitutional stars. Instead, it is as unpredictable as the next election. And those who cherish religious liberty only when they need it may well find it isn’t there when that time comes.
Fascinating look at religious freedom.
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2021
Would recommend to people curious about religious freedom or to those who are studying law as there's understandably a lot of legal language in the book.
I feel like a better, more informed citizen after reading this book. I know a lot more about the 4 main events described and the first amendment.
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