Tag Archives: Religion

Reconciling Morality: Misunderstanding Respect and the Military

US Army SFC Timothy Seppala is a Religious Affairs Specialist, otherwise known as a chaplain’s assistant. He recently wrote a few articles about the chaplaincy and one on “Reconciling your Morality: Finding the Common Ground.”

The article begins with a fairly reassuring statement that morality is “highly objective”, but it soon becomes clear SFC Seppala meant the other word [emphasis added]:

The truth is that morality can come from almost anywhere and is something that is unique to each individual.

As you can imagine, having so many sources of morality leads to many different views on what is right and wrong.

In other words, Seppala mean to say morality is subjective, not objective.  That doesn’t bode well for the rest of the article on morality.

Seppala goes on to note that social issues divide society — and the US military reflects the society from which it is drawn, even on issues of morality [emphasis added]: Read more

US Navy Redesigning Submarines. For Women.

US military defense contractor Electric Boat is reportedly laying out the designs for future submarines that will be [emphasis added]

built specifically to accommodate female crewmembers.

This may be “fake news,” since the genesis of the “women in combat” argument was that women were there already, and that there would be no actual logistical changes necessary to legitimize what was already happening.  Still [emphasis added]:   Read more

Airmen Support Minot Winter Refuge

The Men’s Winter Refuge is a seasonal homeless shelter open during the winter in Minot, North Dakota. A recent Air Force article in the Minot AFB newspaper, Northern Sentry, notes the vast majority of volunteers come from the military base:

The Minot Men’s Winter Refuge is a nonprofit men’s homeless shelter that provides food, shelter, clothing, transportation, shower facilities and basic medical care for up to 15 men per night from Nov. 1 to April 30…

To make this possible, Zimmer noted more than 80 percent of the shelter’s volunteers are from base.

“We have an amazing amount of Airmen Read more

Mark Green Withdraws from Nomination for Secretary of the Army

Tennessee state senator Mark Green has withdrawn his name from consideration for the position of Secretary of the Army.

“To meet these challenges, there should be no distractions. And unfortunately due to false and misleading attacks against me, this nomination has become a distraction,” [Mark Green] said in his statement.

“Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain,” he continued. “While these false attacks have no bearing on the needs of the Army or my qualifications to serve, I believe it is critical to give the President the ability to move forward with his vision to restore our military to its rightful place in the world.”

Score:

  • Those who hold certain religious beliefs: 0.
  • Those who like to participate in specific sexual behaviors: 1.

What a backwards Read more

Gen Boykin Speaks Out in Defense of Mark Green

Secretary of the Army nominee Mark Green, who already enjoys the support of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, recently had retired LtGen Jerry Boykin speak up in his defense [emphasis added]:

Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, an executive vice president at the Family Research Council, said Green has had the courage to stand up in a politically correct environment and state his religious views.

“I don’t think there is any question that he is being targeted for his Christian faith,” he said.

Meanwhile, Green, as a former soldier and Army surgeon, has great qualifications to be secretary and is a candidate who already understands troops, Boykin said.

It is telling that none of Green’s critics have Read more

President Trump on Military Religious Freedom

In the proclamation for the National Day of Prayer:

We are also reminded and reaffirm that all human beings have the right, not only to pray and worship according to their consciences, but to practice their faith in their homes, schools, charities, and businesses in private and in the public square free from government coercion, discrimination, or persecution. Religion is not merely an intellectual exercise, but also a practical one that demands action in the world. Even the many prisoners around the world who are persecuted for their faith can pray privately in their cells. But our Constitution demands more: the freedom to practice one’s faith publicly.

The religious liberty guaranteed by the Constitution is not a favor from the government, but a natural right bestowed by God…

That seems almost a direct affront to those who have claimed religious liberty in America was only freedom of “worship” — privately, within the four walls of your church, synagogue, etc.

At the signing of an Executive Order protecting religious freedom: Read more

Help for Moral Injury Requires Moral Authority

US Army Alaska chaplain recently participated in a “Holistic Healthcare Conference” that included discussions on PTSD and moral injury.

In a panel discussion, Chaplain (Maj) James Hall made a fascinating statement:

When asked about where service members could seek out help, Hall replied, “it usually takes a moral authority to help someone with a moral injury.”

At first it almost sounds arrogant — but, in fact, it’s true. Consider Read more

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