The United States Supreme Court classifies all religious beliefs as preferences or convictions. According to the court, only convictions are given the full protection of the First Amendment.
Are your Religious Beliefs a Preference or a Conviction?
A belief is a preference when, under certain circumstances, that belief can be changed. A belief may be strong and intense and may still be a preference. The five circumstances noted by the court that most often causes one to change his beliefs are: peer pressure, family pressure, litigation pressure, jail pressure, and death pressure. Whether you change your belief due to one of the above five circumstances or any other. The end result is that the belief is a preference and you are not committed to it. (You are as a seed sowed on a rock).
To be a follower of Jesus you must be committed to following his teachings. Jesus teachings become your convictions. The court noted four characteristics that identify a conviction. Convictions are self-determined, nonnegotiable, victorious, lifestyles.