U.S. troops turn to faith amid realities of war

CNN.com ^ | 12/23/2007 | By Alphonso Van Marsh

[dayglored]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- ...

The U.S. military has followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam serving in Iraq. This December, all three faiths observe major holidays within weeks of each other. For some troops, it is not just difficult celebrating these holidays away from home. They are also turning to their faiths that espouse peace to cope with the reality of the war in Iraq...

...

At nearby U.S. Army Camp Liberty, Chaplain Felix Kumai says he counsels Christian soldiers who see complications with biblical commandments like "Thou shalt not kill," as they serve God and country. "It is a really sensitive and difficult question," Kumai, a Roman Catholic priest, says...

...

Muslim-American Army Spc. Lamia Lahlou was born in Morocco and was living in New York in 2001. On September 11, Lahlou's best friend was in one of the trains below the World Trade Center and was killed. "I needed to do something [in response to the attacks]," Lahlou says. She eventually enlisted in the U.S. Army... "[They ask me] 'How can you be a Muslim and you are fighting for America?'" she says. "I love America, so I fight for it -- that's my jihad," she says...

...

Before the Shabbat service, Jewish-American Army Spc. Thomas Forsyth says he thinks God is looking out for him in Iraq. The 30-year old says his faith helps justify his actions in the war zone: "As a Jew, even on Sabbath, what we do is defensive." Shulman says the Jewish troops he counsels have a similar mind set. "These are highly professional volunteer soldiers, who knew what they were getting into," Shulman says. "On the Jewish side of things, there is such a thing as a justifiable war."

...

[DariusBane]

I only use one translation of the bible, and that is the KJV because thats what Jesus spoke. /s

[Godwin1]

“....followers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam serving in Iraq.”

Actually, about 99 percent are Christians, with the other groups having only marginal representation.

[elpadre]

It seems to me that the Chaplain should be explaining that the troops are players is a war between good and evil and that their sacrifices of time, energy and lives should be in that context.

The men and women involved in this war are actually agents of peace, for if they are successful in their endeavors a peaceful mideast will result.

Many say there will never be peace in that part of the world but they are wrong. With our peacemakers in uniform it is not just possible, but probable. Just don’t let our diplomats blow it!!!

[Philo-Junius]

It’s tough to beat the reference in the movie “Zulu” to Psalm 46:

Mr. Witt: I was praying that your officer may turn to God’s word.
Colour Sergeant Bourne: That’s right, sir. A prayer’s as good as a bayonet on a day like this.
Witt: Have you prayed?
Bourne: There’ll be a time for it, sir.
Witt: What will you say?
Bourne: Oh, a bit of the Psalms, I suppose, sir. My father was a lay preacher. Great one for the Psalms, he was. There was one - well, it might have been written for a soldier.
Witt: Say it, man! Lift your voice to God.
Bourne: Now, sir?
Witt: Let them hear your voice. (He gestures toward the troops.)
Bourne: They’ll know my voice when they hear it, sir.
Witt: Let them hear it now, in praise of the Lord. Call upon Him - call upon Him, man, for your salvation!
Bourne: Well, as far as I can remember, sir, it goes something like this: “He maketh wars to cease in all the world. He breaketh the bow and snappeth the spear in sunder.” Do you know it, sir?
Witt: “I shall be exalted among the heathen, I shall be exalted in the earth. The Lord of Hosts is with us.”

[Joya]

Thanks, I agree, it’s refreshing to see CNN run this story.