Young Conservative Movement

Why the disallow Christianity in the military?

the Washington Times wrote:

To pray -- or not to pray -- in Jesus' name is the question plaguing an increasing number of U.S. military chaplains, one of whom began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House However, the lieutenant contends that he may lose his job next month and be evicted from military housing. He says he got in hot water during the summer of 2004 while aboard the USS Anzio for preachingyesterday.
"I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus' name," said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park.

He cites his training at the Navy Chaplains School in Newport, R.I., where "they have clipboards and evaluators who evaluate your prayers, and they praise you if you pray just to God," he said. "But if you pray in Jesus' name, they counsel you."

Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic chaplains are likewise told not to pray in the name of Allah, in Hebrew or in the name of the Trinity, he added.

an evangelistic sermon at the funeral of a Catholic sailor in a base chapel. The lieutenant said he was reprimanded by two senior chaplains and, in March, sent ashore to Norfolk.

Lt. Klingenschmitt also has fought at other times for the religious rights of non-Christians, having backed a Jewish sailor's bid to get kosher meals and sought to include a Muslim seaman in the rotation of sailors offering the ship's nightly closing prayer.

rest of article

Why does America have to keep catering to the minority? If the 20% of the military that isn't Christian doesn't want to pray... then don't pray... it's not that hard. How is catering to that 20% fair to 80% of those who keep us free. They are risking their lives for us. Why can't they express their faith?

Comments

Posted by: cool
Posted on: December 22, 2005 12:34 PM

According to the article anyone is allowed to pray under any belief system. However religious services given to a general audience are meant to be non-denominational so that they may be inclusive of all faiths. According to the article:

"However, the lieutenant contends that he may lose his job next month and be evicted from military housing. He says he got in hot water during the summer of 2004 while aboard the USS Anzio for preaching an evangelistic sermon at the funeral of a Catholic sailor in a base chapel."

This sailor died for his country and his service was slanted to a specifically different version of Christianity than his own. This wasn't even a matter of Christian versus non-Christian. A non-denominational service would have worked for this dead soldier as well as his comrades, yet the minister preached something specific that was not inclusive.

The government's agenda in this matter is to protect those of all faiths. The Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Fundamentalist Christians, Moderate Christians, Buddhists, etc. are all risking their lives. If you were a Christian attending a service that spoke of Shiva and Vishnu instead of Jesus, I think you would feel just as disenfranchised as others do when attending a service that does mention Jesus. You would also feel out of place if you were a fundamentalist attending a service that was clearly mainstream Methodist. Those 80% Christians come in a variety of belief systems as well. A non-denominational policy protects them just as much as it does those of other faiths.

Posted by: Chad
Posted on: December 22, 2005 12:52 PM

If they did in cycles like recomended... that wouldn't be an issue. Soldiers should be allowed to express their faith in these services.