Torcaso v. Watkins, the Supreme Court of the United States' own 1961 opinion (367 U.S. 488), struck down a Maryland requirement that public officeholders declare a belief in God, and its footnote eleven lists secular belief systems including Buddhism, Ethical Culture and secular humanism. Its strength is that it is the Court's own opinion, the primary record of what it actually held. Its limit is that the footnote is dicta rather than the Court's central holding, and courts have not accepted every conclusion later commentators have drawn from it.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
The Supreme Court of the United States' own 1961 opinion in Torcaso v. Watkins, the top tier reflecting the Court's own opinion, the primary record of what it actually held. Its limit is that the footnote listing secular belief systems is dicta rather than the Court's central holding, and courts have not accepted every conclusion later commentators drew from it. NotesCited for footnote 11. The entry notes that courts have not accepted the conclusion often drawn from it.
Citation
AuthorSupreme Court of the United States
Publication Year1961
URLhttps://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/367/488
Source Typelegal
Connections
Associated With
This source names Ethical Culture directly: "belief systems including Buddhism, Ethical Culture and secular humanism."
Source Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 488Supreme Court of the United States
Claims Backed By This Source (11 claims)
This source backs 11 claims across the atlas. As facts: 7 well-attested. As cited relationships: 1 holds. Plus 3 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 8 claims: 7 well-attested, 1 holds.
- Articles, 1 claims: 1 general references.
- Denominations, 1 claims: 1 general references.
- Religions, 1 claims: 1 general references.
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