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Believing in employment discrimination: The case of Forrest Mims,Scientific American, and title VII protection

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Abstract

This article reviews the law regarding Title VII employment discrimination protection from religious discrimination. The issues surrounding the principal legal protection in this regard are explored in the context of a recent controversial case in which an author, Forrest Mims, was not hired as a regular contributor forScientific American magazine, ostensibly because of his belief in the theory of creation over the theory of evolution. The definition of what constitutes a protected religious belief or practice is seen to have expanded over time. However, a belief in creationism is not necessarily seen as being tantamount to a religious belief under present legal interpretation of Title VII. The implications of this finding for future needed Title VII revision are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, Midwestern State University, 76308-2099, Wichita Falls, Texas

    David C. Wyld

  2. Department of Management, Southeastern Louisiana University, 70402, Hammond, Louisiana

    Sam D. Cappel

Authors
  1. David C. Wyld
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  2. Sam D. Cappel
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Wyld, D.C., Cappel, S.D. Believing in employment discrimination: The case of Forrest Mims,Scientific American, and title VII protection. Employ Respons Rights J 5, 1–11 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01407804

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