FoxNews picked up the story of atheist Jason Torpy’s IG complaint about NSA Bahrain’s children’s “live Nativity.” In comments on many of the articles now featuring this topic, Torpy has been roundly criticized as a Grinch — and it seems he lost the support even of some fellow atheists.
At the Christian Post, OneNewsNow, and DC CBS.
It has been noted here many times before that chaplains in the US military travel the world with US troops, even to one-off places [the South Pole].
It should go without saying that chaplains follow their troops into combat, as well. Many are familiar with the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan and Part 3 of Band of Brothers, which dramatize the real-life service of chaplains serving under fire. In the movies, they are unfazed (and unstruck) by the bullets landing around them:
From Saving Private Ryan, a chaplain gives last rites during the assault on Omaha Read more
Some people claim there’s a “war on Christmas” when retailers substitute “Happy Holidays” for “Merry Christmas.” While some customers or employees may take issue, the retailers’ choices of words probably have little impact on anything, including their bottom line.
By contrast, some atheists are actively working against “Christmas” in the US military — which has a direct and measurable impact on US troops, especially those stationed thousands of miles from the familiar celebrations of home.
As noted previously, the annual raising of “holiday” or “Christmas” trees and Menorahs has begun on US military installations around the world. The chapels of some bases also put up nativity scenes, as Travis AFB famously did last year.
The US military facility known as “Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain” has held an annual Christmas tree lighting for years. As part of that activity, carols have been sung, Santa has found his oversized chair, and excessive amounts of cookies and Christmas drinks have been consumed. In addition, the event has featured a “live nativity,” composed of base children and local animals. The event even included a photogenic camel.
Jason Torpy, a former Army captain and current atheist activist, considers “a Christmas tree, presents, some [non-Christian] songs, and even Santa Claus as trappings of secular Christmas.” The nativity, then, had to go. So an IG complaint was filed [emphasis Read more
Update: A local news report seems to verify conclusions former Cadet Page was coached by Michael Weinstein on how to leave West Point with a splash.
Update: World notes “other issues” influenced Cadet Blake Page’s decision, which “may have had little to do with the academy’s religious climate.” The faculty advisor for Page’s group is cited as saying ‘he doesn’t believe systematic discrimination against nonreligious cadets exists.’
The FRC notes Page’s clinical diagnosis requires “help,” not being used for “publicity and exploitation” by “professional anti-religionist” Michael Weinstein.
According to an update at NBC, Senior West Point Cadet Blake Page — who publicly resigned while accusing US Military Academy officers of being “criminals” — will be discharged without having to serve as a Soldier or reimburse the government for his education.
Page’s decision to resign and — presumably — decline to be an Army officer has been almost universally panned in the comments on the media articles on his resignation, even from those claiming to be fellow atheists and cadets. Some have said he should have stayed and “changed the Army from within;” others, that his charges did not seem to be supported or supportable. Insinuations have been made that he may have been struggling to graduate anyway, and that his announcement (as well as his announced book plans) were little more than a publicity stunt to take advantage of an inevitable outcome.
A new ABC article may bear that out, where the AP reports Page admits Read more
The Reverend Sarah Lammert, the next President of an overarching group of US military chaplain endorsers, the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, has endorsed a surprisingly hostile article on the role of military chaplains.
OutServe — the homosexual advocacy magazine focused on the US military — recently published an article questioning whether military chaplains were “force multipliers” or “force distracters.” The author, a reserve US Army Lieutenant Colonel and homosexual, centered much of her discussion on a quote from a “code of ethics” for military chaplains. In particular, she returned to:
When conducting services of worship that include persons of other than my religious body I will draw upon those beliefs, principles, and practices that we have in common.
Through several paragraphs LtCol Vicki Hudson ultimately seemed to distill her displeasure down to chaplains praying, and she said: Read more
As noted previously, a group of atheists (or anti-religionists) at the Freedom From Religion Foundation is trying to bring Jesus down from the mountain. After finally producing an actual plaintiff, a federal judge has ruled they have standing to continue their lawsuit:
The Knights of Columbus and four others had requested that the lawsuit be dismissed since the Freedom From Religion Foundation had not Read more
Jews in Green recently announced LtGen Howard Bromberg, US Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, and Col Glenn Goldman, Director of Military Instruction at West Point, will be speaking to the Aleph Institute’s 2013 “Military Training Course” in January. (Gen Bromberg has spoken there before, and prior speakers have included Speaker of the House John Boehner.)
The annual conference is intended for Jewish members of the military who Read more
An article at the Unitarian Universalist website notes an increase in Unitarian military chaplains and chaplain applicants after decades of under-representation. The article reports the denomination now has 10 chaplains, with 7 more applying. While a significant increase from the “one or two” chaplains before (including Army Chaplain Rebekah Montgomery), it still isn’t a high number. The reason for the low interest?
It’s no secret that for many years after the Vietnam War many UUs harbored some hostility toward the war and the politicians who promoted it. In some cases veterans themselves were treated distantly in our congregations, even shunned.
One UU chaplain said they are needed to balance out “evangelicals”: Read more