Davis v Beason, Sheriff; 3 Feb 1890

References: 133 US 333 (1890), 33 L Ed 637, 10 SCt 299
Links: Worldlii
Coram: Field J
United States Supreme Court. The defendant claimed that the First Amendment insulated from civil punishment certain practices inspired or motivated by religious beliefs.
Held: The assetion failed: ‘It was never intended or supposed that the amendment could be invoked as a protection against legislation for the punishment of acts inimical to the peace, good order, and morals of society.’ The Court adopted a strictly theistic definition of religion.
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