--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No person can be punished for…" description: "\"No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.\" — Hugo Black" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/hugo-black-10272_attendance_no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaini_2346946.png" --- # No person can be punished for entertaining or professing… ![“No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.” quote by Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/hugo-black-10272_attendance_no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaini_2346946.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/hugo-black-10272_attendance_no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaini_2346946.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/hugo-black-10272_attendance_no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaini_2346946.png) > “No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.” [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He protects freedom of religion, stating no one should be punished for belief or lack thereof, or for worship attendance. **In simple terms:** Religious freedom is protected from punishment. Key Takeaway Uphold religious liberty. Themes law religion civil rights constitution Mood protective principled Type legal ethical When to use this quote - court rulings - legislative drafting - human rights advocacy - educational curricula - public policy debates Key Concepts freedom of belief non‑discrimination first amendment Questions to Reflect On - What limits, if any, should exist on religious expression? - How do secular laws intersect with faith? A Different Perspective Balancing religious freedom with other societal interests can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Church attendance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-attendance/) [Disbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelief/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-belief/) [Religious beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-beliefs/) [Separation between church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-between-church-and-state/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) ## Related quotes > [There was only one decline in church attendance, and that was in the late 1960s when the Vatican said it was not a sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/there-was-only-one-decline-in-church-attendance-and-that-was-in-the/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [In general, religious people seem to be happier than non-religious people - under various definitions of "religiosity," such as church attendance or professed spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/in-general-religious-people-seem-to-be-happier-than-non-religious/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [You might tell me that you have been engaging in some deep questioning and theological rethinking.1 You can no longer live with the faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/you-might-tell-me-that-you-have-been-engaging-in-some-deep/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [Church attendance may be dipping, but God can survive the Internet age. After all, He knows a thing or two about resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/church-attendance-may-be-dipping-but-god-can-survive-the-internet-age/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [ \[On women as priests:\] It has always seemed very odd to me that this particular sphere of activity should remain a male closed shop,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stocks-baroness-stocks/on-women-as-priests-it-has-always-seemed-very-odd-to-me-that-this/) Mary Stocks, Baroness Stocks > [Many people get what they need from church attendance because the Word is preached, and the rituals are carried on, and God works, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/many-people-get-what-they-need-from-church-attendance-because-the/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [America has begun a spiritual reawakening. Faith and hope are being restored. Americans are turning back to God. Church attendance is up. Audiences for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/america-has-begun-a-spiritual-reawakening-faith-and-hope-are-being/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I quickly found that the American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/i-quickly-found-that-the-american-church-is-a-difficult-place-to-fit/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/tend-to-choose-what-is-popular-over-what-is-right-when-they-are-in/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Do you realize the weight of the one who has invited us to follow him? He is worthy of more than church attendance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/do-you-realize-the-weight-of-the-one-who-has-invited-us-to-follow-him/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [Genuine Christianity is more than a relationship with Jesus, as expressed in personal piety, church attendance, Bible study, and works of charity. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/genuine-christianity-is-more-than-a-relationship-with-jesus-as/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [Your deepest, darkest sins and your shameful secrets are simply irrelevant when it comes to the counterintuitive, ecstatic announcement of the gospel. So are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/your-deepest-darkest-sins-and-your-shameful-secrets-are-simply/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/church-attendance-is-as-vital-to-a-disciple-as-a-transfusion-of-rich/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-has-erected-a-wall-between-church-and-state-that/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/no-tax-in-any-amount-large-or-small-can-be-levied-to-support-any/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) ## More by Hugo Black > [Our Constitution was not written in the sands to be washed away by each wave of new judges blown in by each successive political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/our-constitution-was-not-written-in-the-sands-to-be-washed-away-by/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Freedom to speak and write about public questions is as important to the life of our government as is the heart to the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/freedom-to-speak-and-write-about-public-questions-is-as-important-to/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [From the very beginning, our state and national constitutions and laws have laid great emphasis on procedural and substantive safeguards designed to assure fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/from-the-very-beginning-our-state-and-national-constitutions-and-laws/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The flagrant disregard in the courtroom of elementary standards of proper conduct should not and cannot be tolerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-flagrant-disregard-in-the-courtroom-of-elementary-standards-of/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [A union of government and religion tends to destroy government and to degrade religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/a-union-of-government-and-religion-tends-to-destroy-government-and-to/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The lesson which wars and depressions have taught is that if we want peace, prosperity and happiness at home we must help to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-lesson-which-wars-and-depressions-have-taught-is-that-if-we-want/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The public welfare demands that constitutional cases must be decided according to the terms of the Constitution itself, and not according to judges views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-public-welfare-demands-that-constitutional-cases-must-be-decided/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to bare the secrets of government and inform the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-founding-fathers-gave-the-free-press-the-protection-it-must-have/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they have, or the views they express, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/freedom-of-speech-means-that-you-shall-not-do-something-to-people/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Words uttered under coercion are proof of loyalty to nothing but self-interest. Love of country must spring from willing hearts and free minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/words-uttered-under-coercion-are-proof-of-loyalty-to-nothing-but-self/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [In my view, far from deserving condemnation for their courageous reporting, the New York Times, the Washington Post and other newspapers should be commended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/in-my-view-far-from-deserving-condemnation-for-their-courageous/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Loyalty must arise spontaneously from the hearts of people who love their country and respect their government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/loyalty-must-arise-spontaneously-from-the-hearts-of-people-who-love/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The word 'security' is a broad, vague generality whose contours should not be invoked to abrogate the fundamental law embodied in the First Amendment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-word-security-is-a-broad-vague-generality-whose-contours-should/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/among-religions-in-this-country-which-do-not-teach-what-would/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [That Amendment requires the state to be a neutral in its relations with groups of religious believers and nonbelievers; it does not require the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/that-amendment-requires-the-state-to-be-a-neutral-in-its-relations/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) [Explore all 66 Hugo Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) ## More Attendance quotes > [To a large extent, the American church has become merged with the world. It has adopted so many of the world's ideals and standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/to-a-large-extent-the-american-church-has-become-merged-with-the/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Our large trading cities bear to me very nearly the aspect of monastic establishments in which the roar of the mill-wheel and the crane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-large-trading-cities-bear-to-me-very-nearly-the-aspect-of/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [While attendance at traditional churches has been declining for decades... the evangelical movement is growing, and it is changing the way America worships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/while-attendance-at-traditional-churches-has-been-declining-for/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) > [My mother attended the local church, Saint Nicolas, and consequently, I attended that church and its Sunday School. My only prizes from the Sunday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-smith/my-mother-attended-the-local-church-saint-nicolas-and-consequently-i/) [Michael Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-smith/) > [Upon arriving, meeting their teachers and signing up for classes, these students began to realize that their attendance at Delaware State University was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-n-castle/upon-arriving-meeting-their-teachers-and-signing-up-for-classes-these/) [Michael N. Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-n-castle/) > [What is the biggest benefit of having a Girlfriend or Boyfriend in the same school where you study? - '100 PERCENT ATTENDANCE'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/what-is-the-biggest-benefit-of-having-a-girlfriend-or-boyfriend-in/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [A lovely nook of forest scenery, or a grand rock, like a beautiful woman, depends for much of its attractiveness upon the attendance sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/a-lovely-nook-of-forest-scenery-or-a-grand-rock-like-a-beautiful/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [If Facebook was school I swear I'd have perfect attendance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-facebook-was-school-i-swear-i-d-have-perfect-attendance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After a child has arrived at the legal age for attending school,-whether he be the child of noble or of peasant,-the only two absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/after-a-child-has-arrived-at-the-legal-age-for-attending-school/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [It's great to see the World Rowing Championships returning to U.S. soil for the first time in 25 years. I am even more excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-young/it-s-great-to-see-the-world-rowing-championships-returning-to-u-s/) [Stephen Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-young/) > [Broadway shows in New York draw two times the attendance of all New York sports teams put together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/broadway-shows-in-new-york-draw-two-times-the-attendance-of-all-new/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > [The number of opera houses around the world and the high attendance rates show that opera an art form that is more popular than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/the-number-of-opera-houses-around-the-world-and-the-high-attendance/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [But there were some things I believed in. Some things I had faith in. And faith isn't about perfect attendance to services, or how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-there-were-some-things-i-believed-in-some-things-i-had-faith-in/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [My attendance in school was 30 per cent. I was always travelling with my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janhvi-kapoor/my-attendance-in-school-was-30-per-cent-i-was-always-travelling-with/) [Janhvi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janhvi-kapoor/) > [The great proliferation of museums in the nineteenth century was a product of the marriage of the exhibition as a way of awakening intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fortey/the-great-proliferation-of-museums-in-the-nineteenth-century-was-a/) [Richard Fortey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fortey/) Browse all 116 Attendance quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugo Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaining-or-professing-religious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attendance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaining-or-professing-religious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/hugo-black-10272_attendance_no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaini_2346946.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/hugo-black-10272_attendance_no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaini_2346946.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/hugo-black-10272_attendance_no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaini_2346946.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church…” — Hugo Black", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hugo Black", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No person can be punished for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaining-or-professing-religious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/no-person-can-be-punished-for-entertaining-or-professing-religious/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```