As reported on a variety of local news sources, a 2004 USMA grad is suing the Army for conscientious objector status after his application was twice denied. The Captain is claiming a conversion to a pacifist interpretation of the Bible.
Former Navy Chaplain Klingenschmitt has filed an appeal to the court martial which ultimately resulted in his discharge from the Navy. He continues to assert that he was convicted of praying “in Jesus’ name,” while the Navy says he was found guilty of violating an order not to attend a protest in uniform.
In an age where Chaplains are increasingly told to make their prayers non-sectarian (or simply not to pray at all), a Hindu “made history” by becoming the first Hindu to open the Senate with prayer. Three protesters were removed from the chamber for interrupting the proceedings.
An interesting article by Dr. Tony Beam quotes Chuck Colson’s description of “neo-atheists,” who are no longer content not to believe in God–instead, they want to eliminate the practices of those who do.
Chuck Colson also wrote an article for Christianity Today in which he notes that the most popular “religious” books right now are those that belittle Christianity. The article also notes that many of the bestsellers reference the growing threat of Christian dominionism, which is also the same threat that Weinstein cites when he “wars” against Christians in the military.
Finally, in an interview at the Southern Baptist Convention, Colson restated his assertion that Christians need to “engage the culture” and “answer the attacks” against the faith.
On July 4th, the AU’s Barry Lynn will be one of several speakers near the White House and the Veterans’ Administration. The gathering is to “celebrate” the “victory” of getting the VA to add the pentacle to its list of approved symbols, demand that the VA add more pagan symbols, and advocate for a pagan military chaplain.The call for a pagan chaplain is problematic, since the military requires that chaplains be ordained in their faith. Since paganism is, by definition, an unorganized belief system, it is difficult for them to create an organization that is consistent with their dogma (or lack thereof). Even the “world’s largest public school of Wicca and the Magical Arts” (Our Lady of Enchantment) makes a point of saying that their program is designed for those “interested in creating their own spiritual tradition.” They say they can meet the requirements of legal recognition of ministerial rights without “making a commitment to any particular Wiccan or Magickal tradition.” Thus, they are “priests” of only their own belief system.
Of the four scheduled speakers that are listed as “reverends,” only Barry Lynn is legitimately ordained in his own faith. Neither Fox nor Ellison list the source of their “reverend” title. Akin is ordained through the Universal Life Church–which will “legally ordain” anyone with a valid email address.
An interesting article appeared in the Stars and Stripes regarding the pagan group and its association with the chapel program at Misawa Air Base in Japan. The sidebar has an interesting discussion by the wing chaplain at Kadena, who says in part that chaplains are not required to “extract all language that might have symbolic meaning,” such as the “heavenly Father” that the Wiccans said made them feel awkward.
The ACLJ responds to the AU’s recent complaints of military support for the Salute to Heroes at Stone Mountain. Their entire letter, which contains a well thought out legal justification (which the AU’s complaint did not), can be read here.
The Jewish Daily Forward notes that Mr. Michael Weinstein is taking issue with a JROTC text which “questions the validity” of the current popular interpretation of the phrase “separation of church and state.” Though religion is nowhere mentioned, he views this as an example of “evangelical Christianity’s creeping encroachment.” As is typical for a Weinstein article, it includes his latest tally of reported death threats. More interesting is Weinstein’s announcement that he is about to embark on a new “far-reaching litigation strategy.” He also has a new book in the works titled “Taking God to Court.”