According to a press release by University of the West (a Buddhist school in Southern California), Somya Malasri has had his coursework in Buddhism approved by the Army, a crucial step which will allow him to enter the military as a Chaplain (see prior story).
To date, Malasri is the only graduate of the school’s M.Div. program.
The Army.mil website has photos of a memorial held at Fort Jackson, SC, site of the US Armed Forces Chaplains Center, for US Army Chaplain (Capt) Dale Goetz, recently killed in combat.
Interestingly, the traditional “Soldier’s cross,” formed by an upended rifle, boots, and helmet, was appropriately modified with an actual cross to replace the M-16; the former was carried by the non-combatant Chaplain, the latter was not.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has protested the tradition of evening prayers onboard US Navy ships, saying they
violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment because military personnel are being coerced to participate in religious exercises…
These officially sanctioned prayers compel service members of varying beliefs and non-belief to listen to and participate in religious exercises…
While it purported to condemn all prayer, the FRFF intentionally highlighted Christianity, even citing the frequently-used and inaccurately attributed concept that
Jesus condemned as hypocrisy public prayer…
If nothing else, the FRFF appears to be intellectually consistent, since demanding an end to the prayers achieves their end of freedom “from” exposure to religious thought. On the other hand, such consistency is lacking for the MRFF, who also Read more
According to Military.com, the small, controversial Westboro Baptist Church has joined the criticism of the planned Koran burnings in Florida, but not for the reason everyone else is. Their reason?
They did it first. And no one noticed.
It’s that in 2008 she and her father’s Topeka flock set fire to a Quran in plain view on a Washington, D.C., street and nobody seemed to care…
Westboro has even said if Jones doesn’t burn the Koran, they will. Elsewhere, there is an increasing chorus of “hypocrisy” accusations against US officials. The US government previously said it burned Bibles in Afghanistan; even at that time, there was a sense that
“if it had been the Quran, this never would have happened.”
Other news agencies picked up on the “unusual” Read more
The Sikh Coalition announced that the US Army had granted an exception to dress and appearance policies allowing Simran Preet Singh Lamba, an observant Sikh, to enter the Army and maintain his religious standards of appearance.
Lamba was reportedly recruited for his language skills. He is the third Sikh behind Captains Tejdeep Singh Rattan and Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi to be granted such exceptions over the past year.
The Sikh Coalition notes that it is continuing to work to eliminate the policy altogether, so that Sikhs may serve without the necessity of seeking a special waiver.
Also noted at the Religion Clause.
According to press reports, General David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, has said the proposed burning of Korans in Florida would endanger US troops:
“Images of the burning of a Koran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan — and around the world — to inflame public opinion and incite violence,” Petraeus said. “Were the actual burning to take place, the safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult.”
While the General is speaking within his purview — the mission and the troops — it is fairly unusual for a military officer to so pointedly address the lawful exercise of an American citizen’s protected rights. The White House also reportedly “condemned” the plans: Read more
According to a State Department press release, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will host an Iftar on September 7th. The meal breaks the Islamic day-long fast that is continuous for the month of Ramadan. The US Army has also supported Iftars in Iraq.
Meanwhile, separate official Army press releases, complete with graphic banners, announce the upcoming Jewish celebrations of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The articles explain the meaning behind the holy days.
Religious freedom in America, and its military, at work.
The Wall Street Journal has a fascinating article about Navy Chaplain (Lt) Terry Moran and his armed escort, Chaplain’s assistant RP2 Philip Chute.
Chaplain Moran is a Seventh Day Adventist. Specialist Chute is an atheist. The subtitle says it all: “This Chaplain is Protected by God…and by an Atheist…at War.”
Lt. Moran takes the Bible at its word, rejects the evolution of species and believes the Earth to be 6,000 years old. He carries a large Bible with him into the combat zone, while RP2 Chute totes writings of Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist and fierce critic of the notion that God designed the universe.
If nothing else, it appears the two have a respect for their relative roles: Read more