Army: Spiritual Fitness Can “Lighten Load”
In its continuing efforts to reduce suicides and improve the overall mission effectiveness of Soldiers on the battlefield, Army Chief of Chaplains MajGen Douglas L. Carver recently lauded the value of “spiritual fitness” for both servicemembers and their families.
The Army defines spiritual fitness as the development of the personal qualities needed to sustain a person in times of stress, hardship and tragedy. These qualities can come from religious, philosophical or human values…and form the basis for character, disposition, decision making and integrity.
“That’s what I think spiritual practice does, lighten the load,” [Chaplain Carver] added. “And who wouldn’t want to take a few rocks out of a rucksack?”
Coincidentally, the Department of Defense published this article on Spiritual Fitness a few weeks prior to an outcry by atheists on this very topic. The article adequately explains the Army is not categorically calling “spiritual fitness” a “religious” endeavor, despite accusations to the contrary by atheists.
Carver recalled an interesting story from a morally conflicted Soldier:
A soldier approached [Carver] and explained that he was a sniper, trained to kill the enemy. He was struggling with issues of guilt and forgiveness, the general said.
“I’m not sure you can find some answers to those things outside of a religious or spiritual perspective,” he said. “When you practice, regardless of what happens in a day’s mission, I know you’ll have the courage to handle it. It goes beyond training.”
Carver’s response seems to differ from that noted earlier, when a Chaplain reportedly told a similarly conflicted Soldier that he couldn’t give him religious assurances of his conduct. Carver, at least, seems to acknowlege the “moral wounds” of war that try men who simultaneously value life and must take it.
Dr. Harold G. Koenig, director of Duke University’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, indicated the value of the Army’s emphasis on spiritual fitness:
“A spiritual world view gives people a reason for living, gives life meaning,” he said. “When you’re out there on the field, constantly on the alert, trying to figure out, ‘What’s my life all about?’ … meaning is very, very important. When people lose their sense of meaning, they lose their sense of grounding, of direction.”
In an apparent allusion to the philosophy behind “there are no atheists in foxholes,” Carver said
People often are drawn to spirituality when it’s time to face something significant, Carver noted, citing large chapel services at the beginning of the war and on and just after 9/11.
I’m not saying it is a bad thing, but most people in the Military do equate “spiritual fitness” with religion, as we see in this article. Every time I see the words spiritual fitness [chaplain too] or hear someone talking about it, it is with a religious attachment…I mean every time! Just to add a bit of authenticity, I polled the office this morning on their definition of spiritual fitness and they all had a religious undertone. Although not scientific, it was interesting to hear several descriptions of how they kept spiritually fit…most said by praying.
I was on a flight to Virginia and an Army Chaplin was behind me talking to another gentlemen and I could not help over-hear them talking about a conference the chaplain was attending on, you guessed it, spiritual fitness.
“Well-Being” would be a suitable substitute for spiritual fitness to avoid any confusion. Courage, faith, humor, patience, compassion, imagination, humbleness, forgiveness, intuition, creativity, optimism, honesty and love are the resources people draw upon in times of crisis and catastrophe. Both are technically close in meaning, but in an apparent allusion to the philosophy behind “there are no atheists in foxholes,” there are.
The Pentagon should just admit that what they want is a military composed of evangelical christians who fervently believe that the American Empire, control of resources by corporations, and spreading the ‘gospel’ go hand in hand. If they can get the majority of troops to believe that they are doing God’s will when they drop bombs and shoot people, then expanding our Empire will be much easier. If the vast majority of troops are the right kind of ‘Christian’, they can intimidate and silence any opposition from secular soldiers.
Then, it will be time to re-make America into a True Christian® Nation.
Albert,
Your piece almost seems like satire.
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Let’s not stop there, let’s make sure we poll U.S. soilders for who is most likely to go into battle with bombs stuck to their back. I mean, if we can just fine tune this baby we’d be able to see who really believes in their ‘God’ enough to turn themselves into suicide bombers for their beliefs and their country- after all, if you believe you’re going to a gold palace in the sky what do you have to lose, really? I mean, it works so well for the middle east, what could be the harm in trying?
Wendy,
Maybe the United States should create an award to give to such members of the military who exhibit extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty – especially when the individual risks and consequently looses his or her life.
In all seriousness, such an honor is given to members of our armed forces, but it is not for intentionally committing suicide. Research Medal of Honor citations: they include phrases like “keeping with the highest traditions of military service” and “reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.” You don’t see phrases such as “aligned with the deepest tenants of our belief.”
Our military attempts to preserve life in pursuit of our given orders. Where does the desire to preserve life come from except from some sort of spiritual belief? That’s not rhetorical. My understanding points to two options: study and promote non-religious spiritual health or abandon the idea of the sanctity of life. Do you have a third option?