Also known as: sincerely-held · sincere belief · sincerely held belief
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A religious or moral conviction that an individual maintains with honesty and the force of traditional religious faith. Courts assess sincerity by examining whether the belief occupies a central place in the person's life rather than by evaluating its theological validity.
Sean Steele directs a nonprofit youth group whose charter requires members to affirm traditional moral standards on sexuality. After a state agency orders reinstatement of an expelled member whose conduct contradicts those standards, the group resists on the ground that inclusion would undermine its sincerely held beliefs. The court holds that the organization's expressive autonomy prevails because the beliefs are central to its mission.
Sebastian Santos seeks exemption from military service on the basis of ethical convictions that function like religious beliefs in his life. The draft board questions whether those convictions are sincerely held. The court finds the beliefs qualify because they occupy a place parallel to orthodox religious faith and are maintained with equivalent conviction.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Stephen Shaw resigns from a factory after it begins producing military equipment that conflicts with his religious convictions. When the state denies unemployment benefits, Shaw shows that his objection rests on sincerely held beliefs. The court orders benefits because the Free Exercise Clause protects employment decisions motivated by such beliefs.
Sasha Stone, a member of a recognized church, ingests peyote during a sacrament and is denied unemployment benefits after discharge. The state concedes that Stone's beliefs are sincerely held. The court nevertheless upholds denial because a neutral criminal prohibition may be applied even to sincerely held religious conduct.
Sophia Singh teaches at a religious school and leads students in prayer and doctrinal instruction. When the school terminates her for conduct inconsistent with its faith, she claims discrimination. The court finds that her role involves important religious functions and that the school's sincerely held expectations control the employment decision.
Sierra Santos owns a closely held corporation whose religious principles prohibit certain contraceptive coverage. When federal regulations require the coverage, the owners assert that compliance would violate their sincerely held beliefs. The court holds that the owners may assert those beliefs on behalf of the corporation and grants an exemption.
Courts focus on whether the belief is genuinely maintained by the individual rather than on its theological correctness. They examine the role the belief plays in the person's life and may treat sincerity as a factual question for the factfinder.
No. Protection extends to beliefs that are personal and not formally mandated by any organized faith, provided they are held with the strength of traditional religious conviction.
Yes. When forced inclusion would significantly burden an expressive association's ability to convey its message, the organization's sincerely held moral values may prevail over a state's nondiscrimination interest.
No. Courts do not assess the truth or popularity of the belief. They ask only whether it is truly held by the claimant in his or her own scheme of things.
…Native American Church is a recognized religion, that peyote is a sacrament of that church, and that respondent’s beliefs were sincerely held.” 485 U. S., at 667. Under Oregon law, as construed by that State’s highest court, members of the Native American Church must choose between carrying out the ritual embodying their…