DEEP CONVICTION by Steven T Collis

DEEP CONVICTION by Steven T Collis. This was a fascinating read. It brought home and to light how important religious freedom really is, and how far people will go to keep that freedom. I was enthralled with these stories of individuals who wouldn't back down on their personal beliefs no matter what the consequence. In the end, the book caused me to reflect on my personal beliefs and how deep my conviction is. Would I be willing to stand up the way these people did? It was incredibly enlightening and I would recommend it to everyone. Everyone needs to take a look at these stories and determine what they have a deep conviction in.

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Deep Conviction features four ordinary Americans who put their reputations and livelihoods at risk as they fought to protect their first amendment right to live their personal beliefs. Though these individuals couldn’t be more different, they share a similar conviction and determination, and the principles of religious freedom apply equally to all of them.

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.