The term is a “sincerely held religious belief.” The fact that the minor drinker held a religious belief based upon (say) Shulchen Orech requiring alcoholic consumption to the point of drunkenness, the point that there may or may not be other religious sources disputing this religious ruling is entirely irrelevant as a secular legal matter. He has a right to follow the religious rulings that he believes in. (Indeed it would be unconstitutional for the court to even analyze differing religious opinions, and whether they are religiously valid or not. All the court will ask is for a letter from a clergyman simply stating that the persons “sincerely held religious belief” is such and such.)
Menu