The Southern Baptist Convention has sponsored what is probably the perfect VBS theme for Air Force Chapels:
The “Amazing Wonders Aviation: Encountering God’s Awesome Power” is the theme for 2012, though, so you may have a year to wait.
This year, military congregations around the world continue to host Vacation Bible School to minister to children both in and out of the Read more
Atheists at Fort Bragg are crying foul at the military chapel congregations hosting Vacation Bible School.
Because apparently military Christians and their families can’t attend VBS.
Ironically, the atheists apparently don’t know what VBS actually is, claiming the US government is “funding a religious summer camp.” Though understandable for those who don’t share a faith system, its generally advisable to at least figure out what something is before mocking it and calling it improper.
In the same vein, they took issue with the Chaplains office advertising VBS through Fort Bragg’s Public Affairs and email, despite the fact such a message was entirely consistent with the role of the Chaplaincy. They just didn’t like it. The offensive message:
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School will be held at Gordon Elementary Read more
Christianity Today re-covered the prior discussion on “atheist Chaplains,” asking the same question others had previously:
All religious groups make absolutist claims of one kind or another. But how can a belief system — or is it a lack of belief system? — championed by figures like Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens support Christian soldiers in any meaningful sense? When considering chaplains who support Hitchens’s rather broad contention that “religion poisons everything,” how can such leaders “provide the means for others to observe their own faith”? If Christians are indeed suffering from a “God delusion,” as Dawkins has suggested, how can a chaplain who promotes Dawkins’s ideas offer belief-respecting encouragement to a Christian soldier?
The author acknowledges a similar accusation can be made against exclusive religions, but there is a positive response in the Christian faith and historical precedent (something Chaplains are already doing):
One might counter by suggesting that Christians themselves Read more
The Catholic archbishop for the military Chaplaincy, Timothy Broglio, responded to the recent NYT article about “atheist Chaplains” by wondering aloud if such a position would be an oxymoron. Importantly, since atheists can already meet as any other secular group does (like any sports, academic, or other social group), he questioned whether atheists might actually be after a “counter-Chaplaincy” within the Chaplaincy, rather than a positive representation:
“The idea of a ‘chaplaincy’ for atheists seems contradictory,” U.S. Military Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio told CNA. Under present conditions, he said, “it would seem that they could meet and sponsor activities just as many other groups do on installations. Or is the issue here the desire to set up a structure in direct opposition to the chaplaincy?”
He brings up an interesting point. As noted elsewhere, for atheists to meet the intent of the concept of the Chaplaincy, they would essentially need to acknowledge Read more
The New York Times has an interesting article titled “Atheists Seek Chaplain Role in the Military.”
Strange as it sounds, groups representing atheists and secular humanists are pushing for the appointment of one of their own to the chaplaincy, hoping to give voice to what they say is a large — and largely underground — population of nonbelievers in the military.
The ironic part is atheists have previously implied Chaplains’ “secular” roles are better filled by people such as psychologists and behavioral health experts — leaving Chaplains to purely “religious” endeavors.
The atheists apparently want an advocate for their organized beliefs, which just sounds strange to say. But Jason Torpy of the MAAF says exactly that: Read more
An article at FoxNews notes the military’s continued effort to fight the “stigma” associated with mental health issues, to encourage troops to seek help when they need it:
“Leadership is letting folks know that it is not a sign of weakness if you ask for help,” says Navy Lt. Commander Andrew Martin, the psychologist in charge of the program…
All branches of the military are working hard to remove the stigma associated with reporting psychological issues. The old way of thinking was to “suck it up” if a soldier or Marine was having problems coping. Now, the Marines are deploying psychologists to forward operating bases in Iraq and Afghanistan so troops have a ready ear without facing the stigma of being sent back to headquarters for counseling.
The interesting thing about the military’s fight against the “stigma” is the stigma is a perception. The military has worked so hard to remove any actual Read more
A seemingly benign local article highlighted the roles of various National Guardsmen in their units and communities. Speaking of Chaplain (Maj) Steven Veinotte, it said
Major Steven Veinotte of Campton has seen the truth of that old adage that there are no atheists in foxholes.
“I think that’s natural,” he said. “It’s part of human nature, when the pressure gets ratcheted up, you tend to ask God for more things.”
However, Jason Torpy’s Military Association of Atheists Read more
Despite Fort Bragg bearing a brunt of repeated criticisms over its handling of the atheist “Rock Beyond Belief” — including being painted as liars, predators and bigots — the US Army command has maintained the high ground. Even as it was accused of unConstitutional conduct, its Garrison commander, Col Stephen Sicinski, continued to say he supported the right of the atheists to hold their event, should the event-holders decide to un-cancel it (as they are hinting, while still highlighting the cancellation).
In a related vein, a recent news article notes the Fort Bragg atheists’ attempt to form a “distinct faith group” under the Army’s fairly unique recognition system. The Army has been helping them along the way, in more ways than one: Read more