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Pentagon amends 'Christian' designations after Mormon members of Congress complain
The Christian Post ^ | Monday, June 08, 2026 | Jon Brown

Posted on 06/10/2026 9:10:34 AM PDT by fidelis

The U.S. Department of War further amended its recently revised list of recognized religious affiliations Monday after several Mormon members of Congress expressed outrage that Mormonism was initially listed as separate from other Christian denominations.

"Last week, a proposed list of simplified faith codes was released to the media. The Pentagon list included redundant and unnecessary labeling, and the mistake has been fixed," the Department of War said in statement that was forwarded to The Christian Post.

"The goal of this effort is to simplify a previously out-of-control 'belief' coding system that had ballooned to over 200 codes. In order to clarify the work of chaplains, and simplify the work of commanders, the Pentagon has consolidated and simplified the list to roughly thirty codes — using the previously used labels for faiths."

The Pentagon added that its job "is not to adjudicate theological debates, but instead to ensure sincerely-held faith is respected and encouraged in our ranks."

The change came after Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and others among the nine Mormon members of Congress issued a flurry of social media posts condemning the list, which was first released publicly last week. The list came after the Pentagon eliminated 180 belief systems from its previous list of recognized faiths for U.S. service members, streamlining the number from 211 to 31.

(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: departmentofwar; military; religion
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New development on this story. I'm not LDS, but I think the new list makes a lot more sense.
1 posted on 06/10/2026 9:10:34 AM PDT by fidelis
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To: fidelis

Sort of the way “T. J. Hooker” is “Star Trek”.


2 posted on 06/10/2026 9:16:03 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Sirius Lee

Lol!


3 posted on 06/10/2026 9:17:43 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it, won't leavebussed )
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To: fidelis

Disagree. Mormonism is a cult. Not a Christian denomination.


4 posted on 06/10/2026 9:18:54 AM PDT by sauropod
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To: fidelis

Mormons do not believe in the Trinity. They are not Christians.


5 posted on 06/10/2026 9:20:48 AM PDT by Petrosius
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To: sauropod

Jeff Head was Mormon. As are many patriots This was a really stupid move by the Pentagon to start with. Mormanism is no more a cult than Catholicism.


6 posted on 06/10/2026 9:23:11 AM PDT by AuntB (Trump is our Ben Franklin - Brilliant, Boisterous, Brave and ALL AMERICAN!)
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To: Petrosius

Not for you to decide


7 posted on 06/10/2026 9:24:13 AM PDT by AuntB (Trump is our Ben Franklin - Brilliant, Boisterous, Brave and ALL AMERICAN!)
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To: AuntB

It is MUCH more a cult. The Mormon Jesus and Satan were brothers. That’s as non-Christian heresy as it gets.


8 posted on 06/10/2026 9:26:24 AM PDT by jagusafr ( )
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To: All

The new chart does not list LDS (or any other denominations) as Christian. All the religions it lists (including non-Christian ones) are simply listed alphabetically. Seems fair to me.


9 posted on 06/10/2026 9:27:00 AM PDT by fidelis (June is the Month of Devotion to to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pass it on!)
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To: sauropod
Disagree. Mormonism is a cult. Not a Christian denomination.

The chart does not list them as one. It helps to read the article.

10 posted on 06/10/2026 9:29:03 AM PDT by fidelis (June is the Month of Devotion to to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pass it on!)
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To: fidelis

The new list is perfectly reasonable. Didn’t see the old list, but this list doesn’t do anything insulting to any religious tradition. It lays down broad categories that are historically/sociologically/theologically grouped together appropriately.

Obviously any list like this can become more granular. But I think for purposes of milItitary chaplaincy, this is an excellent list. It’s arguably very gracious as it could, possibly, be consolidated evern further and have fewer categories....just from an operational perspective.

Seems to me that in the context of freedome of religion in the military, this list is quite good.


11 posted on 06/10/2026 9:38:13 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: fidelis

A Mormon chaplain can’t properly serve Catholics or Reformed Protestants. Or vice versa. This is so not controversial. Each of the categories listed have different theologies/histories/practices. This is the DODs attempt to maximally accommodate the religious needs of people in service.

Sen Lee and others trying to find an issue here should shut up and go away.


12 posted on 06/10/2026 9:41:19 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: fidelis
See that, Secretary Hegseth?

See what happens when you delegate to the good soldier Schweik?

13 posted on 06/10/2026 9:42:11 AM PDT by Salman (It's time to go full Pinochet before it's too late.)
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To: ConservativeDude

It occurs to me that some Native American religions might be omitted from this list. On the other hand, there may not be enough service members sincerely practicing those sort of definable religions to put them into this taxonomy. But if anyone here is knowledgeable that, I’d be interested to know.


14 posted on 06/10/2026 9:45:15 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: fidelis

I’ll take Mormons over muslims or hindus every single time.


15 posted on 06/10/2026 9:50:08 AM PDT by eldoradude (Think for yourself...)
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To: Petrosius

“Mormons do not believe in the Trinity. They are not Christians.”

I obviously disagree with the LDS and consider them heretics, but I fully admit that the Trinity is very confusing to me. It’s just one of those things I accept as more astute minds than mine have decided is correct.

In particular, Jesus’ prayer in the Garden to the Father, asking that the cup (crucifixion, et al) be taken away from Him, but He’d do what the Father wanted.

Clearly, there’s a distinction, but also a Oneness of wills.

I file it under things my engineer brain doesn’t get.


16 posted on 06/10/2026 9:58:15 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: Petrosius

“Mormons do not believe in the Trinity. They are not Christians.”

I obviously disagree with the LDS and consider them heretics, but I fully admit that the Trinity is very confusing to me. It’s just one of those things I accept as more astute minds than mine have decided is correct.

In particular, Jesus’ prayer in the Garden to the Father, asking that the cup (crucifixion, et al) be taken away from Him, but He’d do what the Father wanted.

Clearly, there’s a distinction, but also a Oneness of wills.

I file it under things my engineer brain doesn’t get.


17 posted on 06/10/2026 9:58:15 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: AuntB

Well, AuntB. You are one of my favorite people (I think you know this), but I have to disagree. I know my Bible well n enough to know what is truth and what is not.

I knew Jeff Head. Great guy. Proud to know him.


18 posted on 06/10/2026 10:00:44 AM PDT by sauropod
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To: fidelis

Just following a proud FR tradition of not reading the article before commenting. ;-) ;-)

I read the excerpt and was left with the impression that, due to Sen. Lee’s and the other 9 legislators’ objections, that Mormonism was moved into the listing for Christian denominations. If this is not so, then my mistake, but that is what I tjought I read.


19 posted on 06/10/2026 10:07:24 AM PDT by sauropod
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To: fidelis

The Mormonism cult is it’s own religion, it isn’t a denomination of Christianity.


20 posted on 06/10/2026 10:11:40 AM PDT by ansel12
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