Posted on 06/29/2004 6:26:25 PM PDT by orionblamblam
The old adage that there are “no atheists in foxholes” does not appear to apply as much as it used to. It turns out that the active duty troops in the American armed forces are somewhat less religious than the population as a whole.
Americans over all are 78 percent Christian, 1.3 percent Jewish, .5 percent Moslem, .4 percent Hindu, 13 percent unknown or none and the rest various other sects and faiths. But the troops are 55 percent Christian, .3 percent Moslem, .27 percent Jewish, .04 percent Hindu, .24 percent Buddhist and 34 percent unknown or no preference. Part of this may be a generational thing, as the troops are younger than the population as a whole. People become more religious as they get older. Another factor is probably education, as the high education standards for recruits means those in uniform have several years more formal education than their civilian peers. More literate too, as people in uniform read at a level a full year ahead of civilians. As people become more educated, they tend to be less religious.
While most religions are underrepresented in the military, there are some exceptions. The Mormons (Latter Day Saints), represent 1.3 percent of the American population, and 1.1 percent of the troops. Catholics, which are 25 percent of the population, are 22 percent of the troops. The Mormons are recruited energetically by the military. Mormon families emphasize education and clean living for their kids, which makes them ideal candidates for enlisted or officer slots. Because nearly all Mormon men spend two years as missionaries, and many do this in foreign countries (after learning the local language at Mormon schools), Mormons are particularly sought after for intelligence, translation and Special Forces jobs. The largest concentration of reserve Military Intelligence units is located in Utah, a state with a majority Mormon population. If Mormons cannot be enticed into active duty, the armed forces makes it easier for the well educated and multi-lingual Mormons to join these reserve units.
Even so, when American troops work with those from other countries, the foreign soldiers are surprised at how “religious” the U.S. troops are. That’s because the United States has the highest rate of religious participation in the industrialized nations.
Back-handed slap at George Bush "dumbness"?
Funny...the Founding Fathers were all highly educated...and highly religious.
My pop said that most of the youngsters he saw pass away asked for their moms or for the Lord's grace and forgiveness. Also lots of the prayers were made, especially if they were face down trying to make themselves as small as possible in the dirt as bullets whizzed by.
> the Founding Fathers were all highly educated...and highly religious.
Somewhat less religious than their contemporaries. Jefferson springs to mind.
Jefferson was quite religious...just maybe not the right religion!
At our local church I count at least four families with MD or DMD after their names. The youngest is about 28 or 29 and the oldest is 50+. There are at least 2 CPA's, both in their 30's and a smattering of PhD's. I do not know about college graduates, but would wager they are the majority of the heads of households in the 300+ family congregation.
I look at this as a Bush slam. Christian = uneducated, what a laugh.
read later
For a different perspective may I suggest reading "A Table In The Presence", by Lt. Carey Cash. You will understand just how important faith and God are to our troops in Iraq!
> You will understand just how important faith and God are to our troops in Iraq!
I'm sure to a great many troops, that's true. But to a notable fraction of others... not so much.
> Christian = uneducated, what a laugh.
That's not what it said. What it said was, the higher the level of education, the less religious a person is *likely* to be. Among the PhD and whatnot I know, I've certainly found that to be true... but my and your person experiences are mere anecdotes. What do the national stats say?
There may be times when "God" isn't in your foxhole,
but there WILL be times when you will Pray he is, HARD!
Most of the time, I wasn't afraid but when big stuff is landing all around, that hole seems like the largest target on earth. I wasn't embarressed about it, everyone else was
praying like hell too.
"But to a notable fraction of others... not so much."
And...sad to say, possibly at their eternal peril.
I take issue with the statement 78% of Americans are Christians. 78% may believe God exists. That doesn't mean they've experienced a spiritual conversion, even if they may be under the impression the two are the same.
I'm not sure if it is reality that 55% are Christians in the armed forces but would state that number seems closer to the truth for the general population overall in our country.
It isn't saying that EVERYONE who is religious is an idiot.
It's a simple factual statement that AS A WHOLE, the more educated people are (college, advanced degrees, graduate school) the less religious they are. On the whole, you see less church attendance, etc. That doesn't mean there aren't thousands of doctors and lawyers and pHDs that go to church every Sunday..there are.
It's just that the % that do is less than those with just high school educations.
BIG LIE #1
But the troops are 55 percent Christian, .3 percent Moslem, .27 percent Jewish, .04 percent Hindu, .24 percent Buddhist and 34 percent unknown or no preference.
NO PREFERENCE in the military means you do not make a preference as to Catholic, Protestant etc. It does NOT mean you are not a Christian.
This is another stage of Grmasci's outline on how to destroy us!
"...discredit the church - See that this is given a high profile in the news - Like-minded infiltrators in the media will cooperate..."
Only if they are victims of a Godless educational system.
Our current crop of public school victims never had the benefit of learning from these materials (or an 'updated' version of same). 
Had they done so they would be both better educated and more Godly.
> Once upon a time, higher education did not show the disdain for religion that they have now,
In no small part due to the fact that in times past, "higher education" meant being taught by the church, what with education being a dangerous thing and all...
> Given the level of indoctrination that goes on in higher
education now, perhaps the drop in religiousness is more indicative of...
Engineering and science students beign exposed to natural explanations of things formerly considered solely within the realm of the spiritual?
I've never heard of a physics class that "indoctrinates" students with anti-religion propoganda.
> sad to say, possibly at their eternal peril.
They're still putting their butts on the line for YOUR sake.
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