Tag Archives: Religion

Finding God in Iraq: Living Christianity

Carol Pipes, a female reporter for Christianity Today, went to Iraq to report on the Chaplains at Camp Victory in Baghdad.  While most of the article merely recounts her narrative, she does make a few interesting observations.  In particular, she reinforces the importance of living the Christian witness, and how it is a tool for Christ even in the face of orders against conversion.

While proselytizing Muslims is strictly prohibited, Christians in the military demonstrate the love of God in their actions. The fruit of the Spirit that exudes from our chaplains and Christian troops is not lost on the Iraqis.

The article is entitled “Finding God in Iraq,” and can be seen at Today’s Christian Woman.

Military Religion Question of the Day: Mundy

According to Michael Weinstein’s Military Religious Freedom Foundation, in the following video,

In violation of military regulations, Lt. Col. Mundy appeared in full uniform on the Christian television program Total Victory Today.

So, did now-Colonel Mundy violate a military regulation? If so, which one?

If you don’t think he violated one, what’s your response to those who say he did?

Don’t know the answer? Ask below, and stay tuned for an update.

The full video, which is nearly twice as long as the YouTube version below, was available on the Total Victory Today organizational website.

Commander Relies on Daily Prayer

President Obama recently noted the importance of prayer in his life, saying that he “prays all the time now.”  He made the statement in an interview for Nightline.

President Obama says he starts his day with a devotional that the director of his Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships initiative, Pentecostal pastor Joshua DuBois, sends to his BlackBerry each day.

The Commander in Chief also said “I’ve got a lot of stuff on my plate and I need guidance all the time.”  Like his military subordinates, Obama enjoys the liberties of free exercise guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as the freedom to let his exercise be known.

To date, there have been no significant complaints that Obama’s statements about religion or prayer have unduly influenced or discriminated against his subordinates.  (By contrast, some military officers were the subjects of complaints a few years ago for merely mentioning the biographical fact that they were Christians.)

Iraqi Christian Evangelizes American Soldiers

In a rare public interaction of Iraqis, American soldiers, and the Christian faith, the Iraqi Bishop of Basra held a Catholic Mass for American troops stationed in his region.  The Mass was held on Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, on 8 August, by Bishop Imad Al Banna.  Approximately 50 people attended the service, which was delivered in historic Aramaic.

Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Morris, a Multinational Division South chaplain, said he commends Banna Read more

Religious Objection and the Selective Service

The Washington Post writes that a Quaker has sued the Selective Service, with the assistance of the ACLU, because there is no way for him to record his status as a conscientious objector on the Selective Service registration forms.  Because of that omission and Tobin D. Jacobrown’s refusal, he will be in violation of the law requiring registration and may be unable to obtain certain federal benefits.  (As he is now 21, he has technically already violated the law, which requires him to register within 30 days of his 18th birthday.)

A Selective Service representative accurately pointed out that the system does not currently record objector status; instead, should the draft be instated, the application for such status would Read more

US Marine Baptized in Afghanistan

In a unique display of the lengths to which the US military will go to ensure the free exercise of its troops, a Marine Lance Corporal was baptized by a Navy Chaplain during combat operations in Afghanistan.  The Washington Post filmed and reported on the event.

Lance Corporal Zachary Ludwig had to wait for Navy Chaplain (Lt) Terry Roberts to arrive at his outpost.  He was baptized in an irrigation ditch fed by the Helmand River Read more

Mission Aviation Featured at Oshkosh

Mission Aviation Fellowship displayed its new Kodiak aircraft at the Airventure airshow in Oshkosh recently.

MAF has always participated in the air show, but the organization’s presence was greater this year due to the event’s “Fly4Life” theme. The theme focused on public benefit aviation, with a whole section devoted to missionary aviation.

John Boyd, President of MAF, said the ministry is still in need of more people to serve in remote areas where isolation and poverty are facts of life. He asked for people to consider partnering with the ministry in some way, whether financially or by giving of their time.

Links to MAF and other mission aviation organizations are listed here.

Navy Reverses Restriction on Religious Speech

As previously noted, in June the Liberty Council wrote a letter to the Navy demanding the removal of restrictions on religious speech on its “Navy for Moms” website.

According to a press release, the Liberty Council received a reply from the Navy in which it announced the institution of new guidelines that removed the restrictions on religious and political speech in the Navy for Moms forum.  Liberty Council’s Mat Staver said

We applaud the Navy for responding by removing restrictions on religious speech. To forbid ‘Christian Chat’ as a chat forum for Navy Moms, under the notion that the name is too divisive for a public forum, was absurd. About 90 percent of Americans profess belief in God, and the majority of them are Christian. Of all places, religious freedom must be respected in our armed services.

Also noted at the Religion Clause.

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