8. Religious and Ethical Objections
During the Vietnam War, many individuals sought exemption from military service by citing religious and ethical beliefs. The Selective Service System recognized conscientious objector status for those whose opposition to war was rooted in sincere religious convictions. This recognition was expanded in the 1965 Supreme Court case United States v. Seeger, which allowed individuals without traditional religious affiliations to qualify if their beliefs were deeply held and akin to traditional religious views. However, the 1971 case Gillette v. United States clarified that objections based solely on opposition to a specific conflict, rather than all wars, did not qualify for conscientious objector status. These legal decisions significantly influenced the number of conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War era.
