Onward, Christian Soldiers

Opinion Journal ^ | 04/01/2002 | BRENDAN MINITER

[Pokey78]

American servicemen fight for their country--and most also answer to a higher Power.

"We should be dead," one soldier told Maj. Mike Dugal as Operation Anaconda wound down last month. "Our equipment is riddled with bullets. I know someone is praying for me."

[TLI]

I have heard and read about this... equipment and even the uniforms FULL of holes, and barely a scratch on the troops.. What can you say, other than if I am in such a situation I hope I am looked over as well..

[betsyross60]

Thank God for those who are willing to serve as chaplains in the military. This post reminds me again of why I should pray for our military every day as they truly "stand in harm's way" in the fight for our freedom! May God bless America and our troops in Jesus' name.

[LarryLied]

54% of whom list themselves as Protestant and 21% as Catholic. Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists combined amount to less than 1%, with 24% of soldiers listing either some other religion or no religious preference.

Amazing.

[LiteKeeper]

I am proud to have served as an Artillery officer in VietNam and then later as a Chaplain. There are many dedicated "prior service" chaplains on active duty, carrying the lessons learned on the battlefield back to their soldiers as "soldier-priests", encouraging and ministering to the needs of young heroes.

May God bless and protect these servants of Christ and soldiers.

[CreekerFreeper]

75% of our military force is Christian-oriented. I thought the Jewish numbers would be higher. Who cares about the Muslims and Buddhists.

[LiteKeeper]

God cares. When I was on active duty as a chaplain, my "congregation" was all of the soldiers in my unit - regardless of their "faith" group. I am an evagelical pastor/chaplain - but on the battlefield, all soldiers are part of the flock.

One of the important Constitutional principles to remember is that the "free exercise" of religion is for ALL soldiers. If I expect to be allowed to worship in whatever manner I chose, then I must allow the privilege to all. And to do that, the Army chaplain is mandated to "provide" religious support to ALL.

[Abn1508]

Well, to tell you the truth, my response is "praise the Lord and pass me more Kevlar!"

[Chapita]

I have an undying respect for the medic/corpman, who tend to the body, and the same for the chaplain, who tends to the heart and soul.

And it is much more than welcome to the Christ who forgives us our evilness!

[Salvation]

I was totally amazed this last year to find this story about George Washington in a Middle School textbook!

[LarryLied]

The major religions aside from Christainity accounting for 1% or less of our troops is amazing considering how many are here. I suspected each group (aside from Buddhists)would have at least that many.

[goody2shooz]

I'm curious about something stated in your posting; how can a Buddhist be in the armed forces. Aren't they pacifists?

Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses are pacifists. They do not serve in the military. How can Buddhists serve in the military and still be pacifists. This is puzzling.

[Restorer]

Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses are pacifists.

Not clear on the SDAs, but your information on the JWs is not entirely correct. They do not consider themselves to be pacifists (believers that violence is always wrong).

They do not serve in the armies of any earthly power because they believe they owe their sole allegiance to the Kingdom of God. So, they'd be quite willing to serve in God's army.

In practical terms, of course, there's little difference between this position and pacifism.

[Restorer]

I have heard and read about this... equipment and even the uniforms FULL of holes, and barely a scratch on the troops..

Part of the reason may be that apparently the new body armor works a lot better than expected.

[LiteKeeper]

There are many 7th Day Adventists in the military. The JW's don't server because they don't recognize the authority of earthly governments over their lives, as I understand it. Thus they don't pledge allegience to the flag. Buddhists are another story. I had a practising Buddhist in my unit in Germany. But, he was a "convert" - with an Hispanic surname. Another soldier married a Japanese woman, and "converted". At the same time, there are many who enter the military, not completely convinced of the claims of the faith groups that follow. Many, however, "get religion" in the war zone, and it is out responsibility to provide for them wherever they are.

[brat]

PTL! Truly the miraculous is at work. God bless our troops and God bless America!

[crystalk]

"Onward, Christian Soldiers" is the national anthem of Saudi Arabia.

You heard it here first.

[crystalk]

Seventh-day Adventists are not pacifists, and well over 30000 including a number of chaplains, are in the active services TODAY! in USA.

Such things we Do read. Besides that, you have classed them/us with Jehovahs Witnesses, and that is a terrible sin in itself.

[crystalk]

I think you meant to say Quakers, of course.

SDA do have such a catchy name!