Posted on 08/22/2007 8:09:00 AM PDT by shrinkermd
Last week, after an investigation spurred by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the Pentagon abruptly announced that it would not be delivering "freedom packages" to our soldiers in Iraq, as it had originally intended.
What were the packages to contain? Not body armor or home-baked cookies. Rather, they held Bibles, proselytizing material in English and Arabic and the apocalyptic computer game "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" (derived from the series of post-Rapture novels), in which "soldiers for Christ" hunt down enemies who look suspiciously like U.N. peacekeepers.
The packages were put together by a fundamentalist Christian ministry called Operation Straight Up, or OSU. Headed by former kickboxer Jonathan Spinks, OSU is an official member of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program. The group has staged a number of Christian-themed shows at military bases, featuring athletes, strongmen and actor-turned-evangelist Stephen Baldwin. But thanks in part to the support of the Pentagon, Operation Straight Up has now begun focusing on Iraq, where, according to its website (on pages taken down last week), it planned an entertainment tour called the "Military Crusade."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
If it was just mystical meanderings the Bible would not be perceived as so dangerous.
I’m guessing it had more to do with the game, than the bible.
So are we still required to have the Gitmo terrorists provided with the Koran?
“I’m guessing it had more to do with the game, than the bible.”
My thoughts as well. I read of groups sending bibles for some time now.
If children can be subjected to porn on the tube and the cry is for self censorship then why can't grown men decide whether to throw away a package with a Bible game in it?
I'm telling you people, these liberals are totalitarian bigots.
Slightly OT - I really hope people are listening to the President’s speech because it is a brilliant one - perhaps the best he has ever given.
Yes, and the game has been wildly mischaracterized in this and similar articles with outrageous fabrications about content that does not exist in the game.
I’m not familiar with the game, but the concept sounds pretty dumb. Then again, I don’t play computer games. It just seems that our troops would have better things to do in their off time, than play a game where you kill people.
That’s just the thing. It’s not a game where you kill people. It’s a game based on the LeftBehind novel series where you try to outsmart the antichrist and his forces, try to convert the undecided to follow Christ rather than the antichrist, and try to avoid being captured and killed. There is a combat aspect of the game, but it is not the main thrust of the game.
“So are we still required to have the Gitmo terrorists provided with the Koran?”
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Excellent point.~
I have heard it was coming out but when is it? Don’t tell me it’s over.
Sorry. It is over. Perhaps we will see a transcript pop up someplace shortly. He made some spectacular analogies. I’ll keep an eye out for the transcript.
BS liberal crap. You can't tell a man that he can't be a Cristian and fight or do anything else for that matter. Christians don't tell atheists they can't fight so there should be no problem...but of course there is because everything has to be about appeasing Christianophobics.
Thanks.
I agree with you. One of the rallying points of radical Islamists is that the Western world is out to destroy Muslims if they don’t destroy the West first. Materials like these just reinforces that misperception and makes the killing of every soldier a jihad mandate. There’s a time to fight and a time to proselyte and they don’t mix in this arena.
If a soldier was looking at every event as an opportunity to proselytize, then he is being a danger to himself, and those around him.
On the other hand, not every minute is spent in combat. Some is spent eating and drinking, and developing friendships. Sharing with someone ones beliefs "can be" a way of deepening relationships.
At a time of loss, or a time of stress, giving someone a Bible "might" not be a bad thing.
But to ban giving or receiving Bibles at all, that would be a bad thing.
What the f is wrong with you? I'm not in The Evangelical Christian Army, I'm in the US Army!
Yeah, but do I really have to be Washed in the Blood of the Lamb to close with and kill America's enemies in ground combat?
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