 According to the Selective Service System,
A conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles.Beliefs which qualify a registrant for CO status may be religious in nature, but don't have to be.Beliefs may be moral or ethical; however, a man's reasons for not wanting to participate in a war must not be based on politics, expediency, or self-interest.