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"By Reason Of Religious Training And Belief ... ": A History Of Conscientious Objection And Religion During The Vietnam War, Karl D. (Karl Dwight) Nelson
"By Reason Of Religious Training And Belief ... ": A History Of Conscientious Objection And Religion During The Vietnam War, Karl D. (Karl Dwight) Nelson
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The United States has always provided for those who were conscientiously opposed to bearing arms in the military. Until 1940 conscientious objectors came predominately from the historic peace churches. Throughout the Vietnam War era the legal, political, and religious view of conscientious objection changed dramatically. Several Supreme Court decisions during the Vietnam conflict led to a substantial increase in the number of men classified as conscientious objectors with either a mainstream religious or secular background. In addition to the Court's re-interpretation of the conscientious objection qualifications, many mainstream religious groups actively endorsed conscientious objection, reflecting their members' growing disillusionment with …