We have much to be thankful for: Families that support us even when separated by duty, a country that recognizes our human liberty to worship as we desire, a military that serves and sacrifices daily, at their nation’s behest…
…and a Savior, Jesus Christ, who paid the final price.
Give thanks, this ThanksGiving, with a grateful heart.
FoxNews repeats the Politico report noting the US Army pulled a cross off the front of a US military chapel at Camp Marmal, Afghanistan, which was dedicated just a few months ago.
Before and after courtesy photo originally published at Politico.com.
At first, this situation seems similar to the US Army’s removal of crosses from the chapel in Kosovo a few years ago.
However, the current issue is actually somewhat more complex.
First, US military policies are not necessarily Read more
After being repeatedly called out for decrying one cross and not others, atheist and former Army Captain Jason Torpy, of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, finally addressed the “controversial” issue of Arlington National Cemetery:
Other memorials are biased toward Christianity and ought properly to be removed to private property. The Camp Pendleton cross is just one of many…
The Argonne Cross at Arlington, a 1921 monument erected “In memory of our men in France” also excludes all non-Christians. This cross now memorializes a time when our military had nearly no recognition for anyone not Christian and was segregated by both race and gender…
In deciding to include the Argonne Cross with others “to be removed,” this initially seems like an opportunity to applaud Torpy’s intellectual Read more
In reference to Capt Ryan Jean’s efforts to become an atheist lay/faith leader, Brad Hirschfield, a Rabbi and writer at the Washington Post‘s On Faith, explains “Why the military needs atheist chaplains:”
The U.S. military needs atheist chaplains. Why? Because members of the military have requested them, and the core value of the chaplaincy is to serve the needs of those serving our nation.
If it was that easy, every military base would have a Hooters Read more
It has been said here often that the US military can provide an excellent example of religious freedom to other nations who have yet to fully grasp that human liberty. Unfortunately, in efforts to shore up support with locals, it seems the local religion may get emphasized more than religious freedom. For example, messages from Afghanistan often tout the United States’ respect for, support of, and even defense of the religion of Islam — rather than its respect, support, and defense of religious freedom.
US military chaplains may be an exception to those omissions. Within the Read more
Atheists in the US Army continue to criticize the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program and its Global Assessment Tool. One portion of it is intended to help Soldiers assess their spiritual fitness — to which some atheists have objected, both in letter and principle. Much like their opposition to anything “bigger” or “higher” than themselves, the atheists’ objection to the principle of spiritual fitness has caused them to see offense even in non-“religious” questions, like whether or not their lives have purpose.
Capt. Ryan Jean wanted to perform well on the Army’s psychological evaluation for soldiers. But he also wanted to answer the questions honestly. So when he was asked whether he believed his life had a lasting purpose, Jean, an atheist, saw no choice but to say no.
Apparently military atheists claim no lasting purpose in their lives. Honestly.
Unfortunately, the article conflates two separate questions with which Read more
The US Army is facing “administrative claims” by 83 victims and families of the Fort Hood massacre in 2009 seeking $750 million in compensation. The filings assert
willful negligence enabled psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan to carry out a terrorist attack at Fort Hood, Texas…
[They] said the government had clear warnings that Hasan, who is scheduled to go on trial in March, posed a grave danger to the lives of soldiers and civilians. Read more
Rabbi Michael Gisser officially became a Chaplain in the US Army Reserve on Veteran’s Day. Why Veteran’s Day?
“I wouldn’t be here if not for the U.S. Army and the Allied forces,” said Gisser, the associate chaplain for Jewish life at Wake Forest University…
His father, a native of Lodz, Poland, was a prisoner in Read more