Category Archives: Government and Religion

US Military Chaplain Berated, Warned Over Views on Homosexuality

While talking heads continue to declare that the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell” will have no impact on military Chaplains or Christians in the military, a US military Chaplain has just experienced evidence undermining that claim.

In an article entitled “Mounting religious liberty concerns in DADT,” the US military Chaplain, whose details are withheld to protect his career, is stationed with a foreign military service that allows homosexuals to openly serve.  (The “success” of foreign militaries in integrating homosexuals into the service is often held up as a model for future American service.)  Examples were cited that directly contradict the claims of those who support Read more

Military Paper Announces Ramadan

The Quantico Sentry, the base paper for US Marine Corps Base Quantico, published a “Perspectives on Faith” article last week describing the upcoming Islamic month of Ramadan, which begins on Wednesday.

As with many articles in military papers on religious topics regardless of faith, it contains content explicitly stating Islamic beliefs as fact and without qualification.  The military as a whole benefits from an understanding of the various faiths not only of those that make up the military, but also of those in the cultures it experiences around the world.  In that regard, articles that speak to the tenets of various faiths — even if they do so explicitly, or in a supportive way — are a valuable contribution to the military culture.

Interestingly, the byline of this article was simply the “Quantico Islamic Community,” though a note at the end identified the local Islamic lay leader and gave the military chapel as a point of contact.  It would seem the article was written by a Muslim, given that it used the honorific “peace be upon him” when referring to Muhammad.

Colorado Post Hosts Native American “Chapel”

In the wake of the article highlighting the Christian perspective on a neo-pagan congregation site at the Air Force Academy, a local military paper notes the presence of a Native American sweat lodge on Turkey Creek Ranch, an MWR facility of Fort Carson.  (Fort Carson was recently threatened over the cross on its hospital patch.)

Here, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, their families and supporters come to pray in a traditional Native American purification ceremony.

The religious site has been at the military facility since the 1990s:

The Turkey Creek Ranch sweat lodge was started in 1994 by two Native American military members who wanted a traditional place to pray. Fort Carson Army Installation gave them a permanent spot inside its Turkey Creek Ranch…

Though the military is sometimes accused of trying to Read more

Weinstein Conspiracy Theories Get More “Creative”

Michael Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation may have finally proven his reliance on conspiracy theories to advance his cause.  He recently gave an interview to American Muslims Today, broadcasting in Nebraska, which headlined the interview thusly:

Who would Jesus bust a cap on?
In this part of the series we discuss The New Crusade. We explore how the fundamentalist Christians have fully infiltrated and some say taken over the US military.

(Apparently the impending repeal of DADT is actually an elaborate diversion by fundamentalist Christians in the military…)

In the interview, Weinstein says he can “basically trace the start Read more

Senior Indian AF Leaders Visit US Bases

The Air Force announced the visit of senior Indian Air Force leaders to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, in late July.  The officers were reportedly in Kirtland to observe the USAF use of simulators for flight training.

A picture of an officer accepting a gift from the visiting leaders was interesting for its demonstration of the integration of religion not only with the Indian culture, but also its military:

Air Commodore J.S. Walia is evidently a Sikh, as he wears the religious articles of a member of that faith.  Currently, the US military has granted only a few exceptions to uniform wear to allow Sikhs to serve.

Also interesting is the gift chosen.  The gift is a replica of the Read more

Gene Robinson Criticizes ADF for Opposing DADT Repeal

Gene Robinson, famous as the first homosexual bishop in the Anglican church, wrote an opinion piece in USA Today demonstrating the lack of understanding some opponents of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” have about the military, regulations, and the law.  In his piece, he criticizes the reply by ADF attorney Daniel Blomberg that said “religious liberty is in real jeopardy” should DADT be repealed.

First, Robinson says:  Read more

NATO Denies Desecrating Koran…Yet Again

An article on the military in Afghanistan notes the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has had to defend itself, again, against charges of desecrating the Koran (Quran).  The military conducted a three-day investigation, and noted the accusations didn’t even make sense:

The allegations in the media also state that the Quran was bayoneted. Soldiers performing patrols in that area do not carry bayonets according to the task force.

The military was quick to reassure the local populace nonetheless:

ISAF understands the significance and importance of the Quran to the Muslim religion and the people of Afghanistan and takes allegations of the desecration and disrespect of the Quran or any other religious or cultural items very seriously.

Christian Military Perspective: Pagans, Religious Freedom, and Officership

Recent articles have highlighted the moral struggle faced by Christian men and women in the US military.  When the US Air Force Academy established an official area for pagan congregation, it aroused a wide variety of emotions, from those who found the pagan belief system repulsive to those who felt anyone should be free to do as they please.  Military Christians, too, experienced tension between the tenets of their faith and the dictates of their profession.

Following an article documenting the creation of the Academy pagan area, a commenter highlighted this very conflict (as she intended) when she asked:

That’s great news…It shows a willingness to be accepting of “other” faiths. Don’t you think it’s great news?

Is the creation of a pagan circle at the US Air Force Academy “great news?”  There are two distinct perspectives at issue, that of a Christian and that of a member of the military.  Ultimately, they form the perspective of a military Christian.  Read more

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