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Sex and the Faithful Soldier
NY Times ^
| October 30 2005
| JOHN LELAND
Posted on 10/29/2005 4:30:10 PM PDT by jmc1969
ADD another item to the well-equipped soldier's duffel. An evangelical radio ministry has developed a book kit meant to help soldiers protect their sexual purity, and is raising money to send 6,000 kits to chaplains who have requested them.
The kits, from New Life Ministries, which broadcasts on 150 stations nationally, is intended to promote Bible-based abstinence from pornography, adultery, nonmarital sex and masturbation. "Your goal is sexual purity," the authors write. "You are sexually pure when no sexual gratification comes from anyone or anything but your wife."
The five-book "Every Soldier's Battle" kit, boxed in camouflage, arrives at a time of "increased underlying tension in military chaplaincy," as more chaplains come from evangelical Christian traditions, said David Segal, director of the Center for Research on Military Organization at the University of Maryland. These chaplains often bring a culture of proselytizing, Mr. Segal said, that is "not in consonance with the way the military defines chaplaincy."
"Every Soldier's Battle" began with a call earlier this year to New Life from Michael Music, a chaplain's assistant (official rank: religious program specialist first class), with a Navy unit then in Iraq.
The ministry assembled the kits as part of a study program, including either "Every Man's Battle" or "Every Woman's Battle," and asked for donations. So far it has raised $69,645. The kits, which cost about $50, have not been shipped yet, Mr. Arterburn said.
Mr. Segal of the University of Maryland said the war in Iraq had created unusually high sexual and marital tensions, because troops are deployed more often and for longer stints than in other recent wars, and because more soldiers are married.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: ministry; oif
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1
posted on
10/29/2005 4:30:11 PM PDT
by
jmc1969
To: jmc1969
Ah. Pattaya beach, Thailand.
2
posted on
10/29/2005 4:34:18 PM PDT
by
Michael Goldsberry
(an enemy of islam -- Joe Boucher; Leapfrog; Dr.Zoidberg; Lazamataz; ...)
To: Leapfrog
I think soldiers stopped using, ahem, "services" after Vietnam (in the midst of war that is). Is that correct?
3
posted on
10/29/2005 4:37:38 PM PDT
by
Killborn
(Pres. Bush isn't Pres. Reagan. Then again, Pres. Regan isn't Pres. Washington. God bless them all.)
To: jmc1969
Might sound silly to some. But I think it is a great thing to at least strive toward. Besides, where are they going to find women to fiddle around with while their chasing goons around and trying to put holes in the sheathead's heads.
4
posted on
10/29/2005 4:40:31 PM PDT
by
Marine_Uncle
(Honor must be earned)
To: Killborn
(Nope!)
5
posted on
10/29/2005 4:40:52 PM PDT
by
Michael Goldsberry
(an enemy of islam -- Joe Boucher; Leapfrog; Dr.Zoidberg; Lazamataz; ...)
To: Leapfrog
***Ah. Pattaya beach, Thailand.***
I was at Pattaya beach before it bacame famous. 1969.
6
posted on
10/29/2005 4:41:15 PM PDT
by
Ruy Dias de Bivar
(When someone burns a cross on your lawn, the best firehose is an AK-47.)
To: jmc1969
God bless prostitutes, the unsung heroes of the military.
To: Ruy Dias de Bivar
I was at Pattaya beach before it bacame famous. 1969.My dad was deployed in Thailand with the Signal Corps around then.
Heh, he's never said much about his time there.
To: jmc1969
The kits, from New Life Ministries, which broadcasts on 150 stations nationally, is intended to promote Bible-based abstinence from pornography, adultery, nonmarital sex and masturbation. Good luck.
I understand preaching against adultery and non-marital sex, even pornography somewhat... but take masturbation away from soldiers on 6-12 month tours and you're gonna have some very tense, pissed off soldiers. Then again, maybe that's not a bad idea. The jihadis won't know what hit them. :-P
9
posted on
10/29/2005 4:44:11 PM PDT
by
saquin
To: jmc1969
"Your goal is sexual purity," the authors write. "You are sexually pure when no sexual gratification comes from anyone or anything but your wife."Or husband? It's a two-way street these days for State-side and/or deployed spouses, be they the husband or wife.
10
posted on
10/29/2005 4:44:49 PM PDT
by
DTogo
(I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
To: jmc1969
As an officer in the USAF I will gladly donate to this effort by New Life Ministries.
11
posted on
10/29/2005 4:45:27 PM PDT
by
ICE-FLYER
(God bless and keep the United States of America)
To: jmc1969
![](http://home.earthlink.net/~djtaylor731/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/raquel1968.jpg)
This pin up in "Soldiers" magazine was the best the Army could do for the troops in 1968.
12
posted on
10/29/2005 4:53:12 PM PDT
by
DJ Taylor
(Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
To: DTogo
San Diego has bars full of deployment widows. Shame but a fact of life.
13
posted on
10/29/2005 4:53:23 PM PDT
by
ncountylee
(Dead terrorists smell like victory)
To: jmc1969
Wonder if the Army still shows that gross Sex Hygiene movie. Watching that will keep you from screwing around- at least until your stomach settles down.
14
posted on
10/29/2005 5:03:55 PM PDT
by
fat city
("The nation that controls magnetism controls the world.")
To: Zeroisanumber
The Imperial Japanese Army saw it your way. They had comfort women ...
To: DJ Taylor
16
posted on
10/29/2005 5:29:25 PM PDT
by
dighton
To: jmc1969
I see no problem here.
The overall goal of encouraging marital faithfulness is consistent with a military purpose. Adultery is a violation of the UCMJ and contrary to good order and discipline.
Strong families make for stronger and more prepared units. A torn apart family reduces a soldier's mission focus and can lead to a loss of unit cohesion if more than one unit member is involved. Unscrewing the problems caused by martial infidelity is a tremendous distractor and drain on the time and energy of the command. Military service is 24x7 and makes you a part of community that goes beyond "the job." What happens in quarters affects what happens down range, and vice versa.
Each chaplain supports the commander's overall goal of "strong families" in a way that is consistent with his or her faith. Soldiers are free to accept or reject whatever the chaplain has to offer. Chaplains can use faith-based material that is consistent with their own theology. Some chaplains apparently have requested this particular material; others haven't. The material is offered to those who want it, as an extension of that particular chaplain's ministry.
Personally, it's not my cup of tea. No chaplain that I know would be offended if I simply said, "No thanks."
As I said, I see no problem here.
To: Marine_Uncle
where are they going to find women to fiddle around with That is what DACOWITZ and their various sychophants in the military and here at home are trying to provide them with...
Womenz in combat = 'in-fiddlety' among other things....
imo
To: Leapfrog
Ah. Pattaya beach, Thailand.
I was there in 1990. It was, ummm, interesting. I have a t-shirt from the TCF bar.
To: joesnuffy
" Womenz in combat = 'in-fiddlety' among other things...."
Tough call I guess. Surely we have quite a few women, mostly in the Iraqi theator that might be placed under a lot of pressure to keep the boys hands off them. Bottom line is if one loves their wife or husband they should honor their commitment. As for the single guys and gals, and those on the home front. Tis a tough call to say the least.
20
posted on
10/29/2005 5:49:14 PM PDT
by
Marine_Uncle
(Honor must be earned)
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