Posted on 04/08/2013 5:08:18 PM PDT by raptor22
Defense: As the Army removes crosses from an Army chapel in Afghanistan that offends Muslims, a training instructor lists evangelical Christianity and Catholicism as examples of religious extremism.
It has been said that there are no atheists in foxholes, but like so many things askew in our politically correct modern-day universe, there are apparently some. An atheist U.S. soldier made a formal complaint about the steeple and crosses on a chapel located at Forward Operation Base Orgun-E.
"We can confirm that those items were removed from the chapel," said a spokesman for the ISAF Joint Command. "These items were removed out of respect for the beliefs of other faiths."
This was done after the atheist soldier complained and the president of American Atheists sent a letter to the Pentagon.
"It inflames this Muslim vs. Christian mentality," American Atheists President David Silverman told Fox News. "This is not a Muslim vs. Christian war — but if the Army base has a large chapel on it that has been converted to Christian-only, it sends a message that could be interpreted as hostile to Islam."
Excuse us, but Christian American soldiers have died in Afghanistan protecting Muslims, just as they died in Iraq. Americans put their lives at risk in Bosnia to protect Muslims, and the notion that a cross on a chapel on a battlefield where Americans put their lives on the line is interpreted as a reincarnation of the Crusades is, to put it charitably, nonsense.
Mosques dot the American landscape and we were told that to put a Muslim "cultural center," a mosque by a different name — within walking distance of where terrorists brought down the World Trade Center — was a symbol of tolerance.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
It’s more likely the military is just trying to avoid undue criticism about Islam than it is an attack on Christianity.
The Pentagon is “all in” for the poofers now. God has got to go. Bass turds.
IBD EDITORIAL PING
FWIW, I was an Army chaplain for a long time, and chapels were always religious, multi-purpose buildings with mobile symbols. It was the same when I first attended chaplain basic course in 1984 as it is in the 2004 AR 165-1 below.
From a 2004 document: http://mrsi.usace.army.mil/cos/Omaha/Omaha%20Facility%20Documents/Army_Standard_Design_Documents_for_Chapel_Facility_Types_September_2010.pdf
AR 165-1, the basic document governing the chaplaincy in the Army:
13–3. Facilities
a. Religious support facilities must be constructed according to size authorized by the population strength of the installation based on the Army Stationing and Installation Plan (ASIP). Facilities must be built to specifications in the standard designs contained in the DOD Architectural and Engineering Instructions, Design Criteria Manual.
b. Staff Chaplains—
(1) Forward all active DD Forms 1391 ( FY , Military Construction Project Data) through chaplain staff channels to OCCH not later than 30 days after the beginning of each fiscal year.
(2) Submit proposed field changes to standard design of chapel facilities for approval through the MACOM to HQ,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for coordination with OCCH before they are included in the field design.
(3) Supervise the use of religious facilities.
c. Religious facilities are classified as dedicated facilities. Such facilities are used for religious services and other activities related to the spiritual and moral welfare of the command.
(1) All distinctive faith groups represented in the command may use these facilities on a space available basis.
(2) Other appropriate command activities may be conducted in the facility, in coordination with the Staff chaplain,
when the facility is not being used for religious purposes.
(3) Alcoholic beverages will not be consumed in religious facilities except for sacraments, rites and ordinances.
(4) The chapel environment will be religiously neutral when the facility is not being used for scheduled worship.
(5) Chapels must be available to people of all faith groups for meditation and prayer when formal religious services
are not scheduled.
d. Symbols. Portable religious symbols, icons, or statues may be used within a chapel during times of scheduled
religious worship. Symbols are to be moved or covered when not in use. Distinctive religious symbols, such as crosses,
crucifixes, the Star of David, menorah, and other religious symbols, will not be affixed or displayed permanently on the
chapel exterior or grounds. Permanent or fixed chapel furnishings, such as the altar, pulpit, lectern, communion rail, prie-dieu, or reredos, will be devoid of distinctive religious symbols.
e. The use of religious facilities extends to military personnel (active, guard and reserve), civilian employees,
retirees (regardless of marital status), and their legal dependent family members (reference AR 600–20) providing:
(1) That the facility is available and the use of the chapel facility does not conflict with services of worship or other programmed activities.
(2) That it is scheduled IAW priorities established by local SOPs or supplemental regulations.
(3) That a military chaplain either serves as officiant/celebrant or is responsible for sponsoring the service.
(4) In the case of marriage rites and weddings, that the officiant/celebrant and marriage participants have met the
requirements established by the jurisdiction (local, state or country) in which the wedding is to take place.
(5) That the prospective participants have met the established religious requirements of the chaplain or clergy person who will perform the ceremony or administer the sacrament, rite or ordinance.
f. No fees will be charged, received, or prescribed by any chaplain or chaplain assistant for services they perform or
for use of chapel facilities (18 USC 209).
g. The commander may designate a religious facility by its location, a letter or number, or the name of the
installation or unit using the building. Religious facilities will not be named for any person, living or dead, or designated by a name or term suggesting any distinctive faith group (for designation rules) (See AR 1–33). Exceptions may be granted for facilities officially registered as historically significant.
h. The content, design, and location of memorials must be coordinated with, and approved by, OCCH.
i. Stained glass window designs will not reflect an exclusively distinctive faith group orientation. Neither should they be devoid of all religious imagery and symbolism. All stained glass window design proposals must be staffed through the MACOM to OCCH for approval before a contract is negotiated for their purchase, regardless of the source
of funds.
j. Excess religious facilities can be converted, modified, or disposed. Commanders must submit a request for such
actions through the MACOM and HQ, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: DAIM–FDP–P, to OCCH. Approval
action by CCH must be obtained before the building can be converted, modified, or disposed.
k. Religious publications that make positive statements about religious beliefs are authorized for display and
distribution on military installations subject to the installation commander’s authority to designate distribution outlets or to restrict dissemination under provisions of AR 600–20. Literature that berates or attacks the beliefs and practices,or mentions pejoratively other religious groups will not be purchased, distributed, or displayed on military installations or areas under the jurisdiction or control of the Army.
Check out these guys:
Arie Perliger, Director of Terrorism Studies at the Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy
Timothy L Challans, Ph.D., School of Advanced Military Studies, works like “Awakening Warrior” and “Leading Our Leaders”
Maj. Bryan Stuckert, “Strategic Implications of American Millennialism, A Monograph”
O and the Obamists are at war with God. The army is just a proxy.
Army Proud.
IVD EDITORIAL PING
No way will the homosexual military allow Christians to remain.
I know of some “seeker-sensitive” churches right here in randogville that won’t display a cross for fear of offending the first-time church-goer.
so is the Army getting their recruits from among atheists and liberals these days?
seems to me a lot of these young people come from flyover country Christian communities- or used to
IBD EDITORIAL PING
The Catholics always cover up the crucifix and the Stations of the cross for the Protestants, etc., in the base chapel after Mass.
Overseas, the chapel is shared by all including wiccans.
But when is someone going to put forth a suit against the offense that the Atheists are perpetrating? When God is pushed out the enemy comes in. Sandy Hook events are normal under that circumstance.
I will say that the story of the slide presentation was out of the ordinary, to say the least.
Some people believe they just came from matter. This form of ignorance is seeping into every institution, unfortunately.
Yes of course
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