{"id":43313,"date":"2018-06-15T00:30:14","date_gmt":"2018-06-15T03:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/?p=43313"},"modified":"2021-04-01T13:58:56","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T16:58:56","slug":"marine-commandant-describes-using-religion-during-iraq-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/15\/marine-commandant-describes-using-religion-during-iraq-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine Commandant Describes Using Religion During Iraq War"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Gen Robert Neller, Commandant of the Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently attended an iftar meal<\/a> ending Ramadan fasting in Baltimore. Generally speaking, such events should be non<\/em>-events, though senior military leaders publicly attending religious events occasionally brings criticism (normally when they’re Christian<\/em> events).<\/p>\n

One notable statement from Gen Neller [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n

Neller shared some stories about his travels as a Marine to places where he was the minority as a white, Catholic American. He spoke about using what he knows about Islam to find common ground with Iraqi leaders during a year spent in Anbar province.<\/p>\n

“We’re all sons of Abraham \u2013 why are you fighting me?<\/strong>” Neller recalled telling them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It’s a fascinating statement on several levels. It’s a valid military tactic, certainly — but likely only one that could be made by a religious service member with boldness of faith and confidence in integrating his faith and profession. Obviously, too, it requires a certain understanding of both Islam and Christianity, as well as cultural sensitivity and a belief that such a statement will be helpful.<\/p>\n

It seems unlikely that a troop who had been cowed into keeping his faith to himself, or one that was an atheist, would be willing to take such a step.<\/p>\n

Gen Neller’s anecdote is evidence for the value<\/strong> of the military encouraging service members in their faiths — not just ‘tolerating’ them — and for teaching the virtue<\/strong> of faith. Yet Gen Neller’s story isn’t the first like it — and still, officially, the US military often seems more reticent to promote the value of its troops exercising and expressing their faiths.<\/p>\n

Remember, too, that Americans weren’t the ones who ‘brought religion’ into the current military conflicts. The adversaries did that.<\/p>\n

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