Posted on 02/12/2006 5:40:55 AM PST by RDTF
The Air Force, under pressure from evangelical Christian groups and members of Congress, softened its guidelines on religious expression yesterday to emphasize that superior officers may discuss their faith with subordinates and that chaplains will not be required to offer nonsectarian prayers.
"This does affirm every airman's right, even the commanders' right, to free exercise of religion, and that means sharing your faith," said Maj. Gen. Charles C. Baldwin, the Air Force's chief of chaplains.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The ACLU and the ninth circuit will never allow this.
Well just imagine that: a branch of the armed services of the United States of America, sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, is being expected to actually uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. SHOCKING!
One question: Has anyone with stars on their uniform been FIRED over this whole affair?
Brother, you know in the service we have laws that trump the Constitution. You can't use that analogy.
Typical US Air Farce BS!
It's true, you sign your name and lose your constitutional rights.
It ain't a democracy in the military, thank GOD.
Catholic, Protestant, etc. I don't know about the AF, but chaplains in the Army already do this. Most chapels have separate services.
Aside from that, this is not a good idea without proper guidelines. A situation where a superior officer proselytizes to a subordinate is very touchy, as he may be using his superior position to pressure the subordinate, and that is a serious abuse of authority.
That said, I do have a Bible given to me by an old boss, who was a major. But it was an honest, sincere gift with no pressure behind it. I still have it and appreciate the gift.
Chaplains are very different from your average pastor. While they may only be able to give certain services themselves, they are trained tohelp those of other religions, and they do it very well. It was the Chaplain's Office in Fort Hood that got the space for the Wiccans to perform their services. A FReeper here back in the 60s finally got dog tags that said "ATHEIST" only with the help of the local chaplain.
As an atheist, a lot of pastors really piss me off, but I've never met a chaplain I didn't like.
We all know how much the schools improved since taking God out of them...
Howling at the moon, or kneeling in front of a tree.
"---chaplains will not be required to offer nonsectarian prayers."
Woohoo!
Muslim prayers for the death of the infidels for all! (it's allowed now)
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The above is a good example of taking the new rules and applying the 'Reductio ad absurdum' test to it.
And I really, really, REALLY wish that the 'powers that be' would actually test their rules with that principle in mind.
In other words, take the rule and create the most absurd situation where it would still apply. And if you don't like the results, then it's a bad rule.
It's a prayer used before certain military ceremonies that makes no reference to a particular religion.
IE - no reference to the father, the son, and the holy ghost... or no mention that there is no G-d but Allah.
And now the AF chaplain have the option, in a mandatory military formation, of using a Muslim prayer directing all to slay the infidels.
Just frigging wonderful! Of course, the powers that be assumed (never assume, it makes an '@ss' out of 'u' and 'me') that only Protestant or Catholic prayers would be used.
I imagine that as soon as Muslim, Wiccan, or Jewish prayers were offered at their formations, the rules will change RIGHT QUICK.
But they can't think that far ahead, because anybody over the rank of Lt. Colonel usually must have his brain extracted out of his @ss before being allowed to pin the rank on his collar.
Great, please ignore the above post.
After skimming the article, it seemed appropriate. But after reading the article in it's entirety, the fourth sentence from the end clearly states:
"nondenominational, inclusive prayer or a moment of silence at military ceremonies."
Wonderful how the newspaper buried that at near the end, but not so far so you'd see it if you just read the last two paragraphs.
Great, please ignore the above post, too.
After skimming the article, it seemed appropriate. But after reading the article in it's entirety, the fourth sentence from the end clearly states:
"nondenominational, inclusive prayer or a moment of silence at military ceremonies."
Wonderful how the newspaper buried that at near the end, but not so far so you'd see it if you just read the last two paragraphs.
....except if such practices are offensive to our Islamic hosts and allies.
A Christian pastor or priest cannot say a prayer to Buddha or Allah or any other 'god' without sinning themselves.
And an atheist or secularist wouldn't want or need any. This is asinine!
Yup, just always view it exactly as it is: When liberals talk about the (constitutionally nonexistent) separation of church and state, what they really mean is a separation from the Judeo-Christian God. All others are okay. Generic higher powers, witches and warlocks, buddha, you name it, no problem at all. Their hatred is reserved, quite simply, for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
MM
"It ain't a democracy in the military, thank GOD"
The military by necessity has to be an authoritarian dictatorship.
There is at least one army in history that attempted to be "democratic." It was the Marxist POUM militia in the Spanish Civil War. No one saluted, everyone got paid the same, men didn't have to obey an order unless it was explained in detail, and all ranks fraternized. As you can imagine, they weren't very effective (and they were destroyed not by Franco, but by their "own" side, the Communists, in useless sectarian in-fighting.)
Regards,
Levante
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