Do you feel that your combat service or deployment experience affected your religious beliefs?

2016-03-13T11:07:16-04:00

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Mar 13 at 2016 11:07 AM

2016-03-13T11:07:55-04:00

I Grew up in Church!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2016 11:22 AM

2016-03-13T11:22:53-04:00

It didnt affect my views about religion but it did open my eyes into the power of prayer, especially after a few close calls.

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2016 11:25 AM

2016-03-13T11:25:45-04:00

About the same

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Mar 13 at 2016 11:42 AM

2016-03-13T11:42:36-04:00

I suppose it depends on your vision of whatever god you believe in.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Mar 13 at 2016 12:30 PM

2016-03-13T12:30:27-04:00

It convinced me totally that God (if there is one) doesn't mix in earthly human affairs never has and never will. Doesn't hurt to cover your bases tho, may come in handy in the hereafter (if there is one).

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Mar 13 at 2016 12:41 PM

2016-03-13T12:41:57-04:00

I was saved by the grace of Jesus Christ when I enlisted and am saved now.

Response by SSG John Mendyka made Mar 13 at 2016 1:09 PM

2016-03-13T13:09:42-04:00

Experiences will always impact faith in one way shape or form if one is aware of faith. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.
It was through my own four deployments that my faith developed. Yes I am still a sinner and make more mistakes in a day than I have brain cells to count. What I find is that through faith two profound things can occur:
1) The spiritual (journey) towards healing can occur. Our profession takes us into abnormal circumstances and recognizing this as an opportunity to grow is paramount to turning toward growth. Yet with0ot it, there is an ever present urge to self-medicate and withdraw from society.
2) The willingness to serve. Through our service, especially in deployments we find the service to the greater good and something larger than ourselves promotes a feeling of accomplishment in our own lives that is lacking once we get back from downrange.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2016 3:32 PM

2016-03-13T15:32:21-04:00

That and my years in law enforcement led to a major epiphany concerning all things religion. And I had been a lay minister for nearly thirty-five years, not to mention my Father was one for sixty-two years. He, on the other hand, died with every belief he ever acquired or preached from the pulpit.

Response by PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels made Mar 13 at 2016 8:46 PM

2016-03-13T20:46:29-04:00

I was raised Methodist. However, I had questions that the churches could not answer so I started to learn about other religions. I am currently leaning towards Buddhism. It is the only one that does not say something is a miracle, or part of "Gods plan". If you stay away from the mainstream nonsense, you will find that everything it teaches can be supported by science. It explains things scientifically and not just on faith.

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Mar 14 at 2016 1:59 AM

2016-03-14T01:59:57-04:00

I saw no combat in Korea in 72/73.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2016 6:31 AM

2016-03-15T06:31:12-04:00

God is good! All the time!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2016 7:27 AM

2016-03-15T07:27:40-04:00

I'm not religious then or now

Response by SPC Michael Bailey made Mar 15 at 2016 7:41 AM

2016-03-15T07:41:50-04:00

There was a mortar round that struck the aid station with the majority of my company in it. It was a dud and we narrowly escaped anyone getting seriously injured. I could taste the propellant in the air. Immediately afterwards, there was happy fire in the entire city of Kirkuk. Looked like the pictures of the Gulf War, tracers going every which way. Here's this company of medics 50 meters from the wire scared shitless in a tight perimeter thinking we were about to be overrun. When it was all over, I sat down and realized that a lot of the sheer terror had left me.

I would still get scared. During my second tour I'd get so scared I'd get physically sick. but the terror, that left me. I realized my life was in God's hands and there was nothing I could do to change that. I sometimes ask why I survived, why I lived when other, far more worthy men did not. But, I have faith everything will turn out as it should.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2016 8:08 AM

2016-03-15T08:08:05-04:00

I was definitely religious -- though I wouldn't say devout -- when I entered service, but I was already solidly on a path toward not believing. Nothing in my experiences has changed any of that, and my deconversion was complete within a few years independently of my service.

I would say, however, that given the unique requirements of military service, I can see why religion holds a certain comforting value for many, and if that gets them through the day then so be it; I just can't do that myself, because I would draw no benefit in pretending to believe something I sincerely don't actually believe.

Response by SFC Kina Gyan made Mar 15 at 2016 8:09 AM

2016-03-15T08:09:18-04:00

I'm more of a believer in "common sense" and never been too devoted to religion but it's understandable that other servicemembers recognize respective changes to their religious beliefs due to combat service.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Mar 15 at 2016 8:15 AM

2016-03-15T08:15:40-04:00

To steal a line form the old series, M*A*S*H*...There are no atheists in foxholes.

Response by MAJ Philip Crabtree made Mar 15 at 2016 8:36 AM

2016-03-15T08:36:25-04:00

My multiple deployments in Armor led me to seminary. I have no problem carrying a Bible, several guns, and arranging the passage to Hell for all those evildoers who want to cause me, my family, my brothers, or my country harm.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Mar 15 at 2016 9:20 AM

2016-03-15T09:20:38-04:00

After taking fire 3 out of my first 4 days in Fallujah however, I thanked God the insurgents were lousy shots! After that, it was business as usual.

Response by SPC Jim Vitou made Mar 15 at 2016 9:30 AM

2016-03-15T09:30:57-04:00

The are no atheists in foxholes! I had no relationship spiritually but was spared and that began my journey. Due to my experience I have now launched a Military Ministry at my church to support those deployed who need support and prayer.

Response by 1LT A. Uribe made Mar 15 at 2016 9:44 AM

2016-03-15T09:44:00-04:00

I believe in GOD, and have faith in him; but since I don't go to church I've come to make peace with him while deployed. I'm not one of these last minute believers that turn into religious nut jobs. Being that I don't go to church, my only phrase to him "let your will be done". I feel this is enough for me and not label myself a hypocrite. Only my opinion.

Response by SPC Randall Eichelberger made Mar 15 at 2016 10:39 AM

2016-03-15T10:39:31-04:00

I am proof there are atheists in fox holes

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Mar 15 at 2016 11:16 AM

2016-03-15T11:16:55-04:00

I know mine did. I grew up with a very narrow view of what the world looked like. Going abroad made me realize that there is absolutely no way that there is only one answer. There are billions of people who grew up just as religious and just as socialized as me, but in their own families and religions. Any God that would condemn them is not a God that I want to serve. But the truth was that everything I had been told was communicated by people, not God. It was, and is, all bullshit.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Mar 15 at 2016 11:21 AM

2016-03-15T11:21:26-04:00

My first combat experience, I was a Christian. During my second and subsequent deployments, I found them much easier to bear believing that nothingness is better than both heaven and hell, without the constant fear and uncertainty of knowing which one I'd get infinitely banished to. In fact, my life has proven to be exponentially better without religion, and I'm a pretty good person.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2016 12:51 PM

2016-03-15T12:51:41-04:00

I couldnt sleep the first 48 hours driving over the burm but I know in my heart my life is in God hands. When you are not afraid of the unkown thats when you know God is by your side. My deployment does not affect my religion stayed the same.

Response by SrA Conrad Lewis made Mar 15 at 2016 1:31 PM

2016-03-15T13:31:36-04:00

I've become very cynical and with that comes a maturity boost to stop believing in fairy tales. Just because you grew up hearing something your whole life doesn't make it true and seeing how people really are. The amount of different religions out there is insane and everyone thinks that THEIR religion is the right one. It's all a joke and people suck. Carry on

Response by SSG Lemuel Genovese made Mar 15 at 2016 1:40 PM

2016-03-15T13:40:49-04:00

JOSH:
VN has a largely Buddhist population. Their concept of KARMA was of particular importance to me. Preparing each day to face the worst case scenario became a mantra for me. It allowed me to be more understanding of the people we were defending in that foreign land. It helped me look at them with more compassion that animosity. I looked at interaction with them through their eyes. They had endured decades of warfare before I got to the Mekong Delta.

Religion, in and of itself should be a personal attribute. When it goes haywire and affects how you perceive people as heathens or sub-humans because they do not worship the same deity as you, you have just crossed over the line into dangerous territory. Religion has its place, but it should never cloud your ability to judge people of other cultures with compassion and understanding.

Response by SSG Delanda Hunt made Mar 15 at 2016 2:15 PM

2016-03-15T14:15:45-04:00

No didn't have any in the first place.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2016 7:20 PM

2016-03-15T19:20:37-04:00

Absolutely! I flew into the AOR to evacuate the wounded. I also managed all the aeromed crews from Germany. I always took a quiet moment to be thankful for the sage return of my Crews and for the recovery of the wounded.

Response by SP5 Andrew Maicus made Mar 16 at 2016 1:27 PM

2016-03-16T13:27:37-04:00

My view on religion changed drastically. I was a Christian but now I can't stand religion at all (of any kind). Don't care if someone else believe just not my cup of tea now. I have however gained a much greater commpation for people. Who would have thought.....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2016 9:29 AM

2016-03-17T09:29:17-04:00

Thanks for all of the responses!

Response by TSgt Jonathan Watson made Mar 18 at 2016 12:12 PM

2016-03-18T12:12:39-04:00

I was a nominal Christian only when I was in. I experienced things in Iraq and Katrina that I couldn't square with my futile and fleeting faith. A couple years after retiring, I became saved and was better able to process those things that I had haunting me from my military experience. Due to my service and the questions it raised, I now believe it increased my faith later when I learned to submit to the sovereignty of God after my true salvation.

Response by SGM Frederic Smith made Mar 18 at 2016 5:08 PM

2016-03-18T17:08:08-04:00

Devout? It is all about "Faith, Trust and Surrender"! After three deployments, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt; that GOD watched over me every minute of every day! Before When I received notification I was Mobbing, I went to HIM in prayer. I put my trust and Faith in HIM and Surrendered to HIS will, whatever the outcome. Even when I thought HE wasn't looking, HE was still there. In all the Mortars, Rockets, RPGs, Sniper rounds and all the missions I was on; HE had me safely in HIS hands. "I HAD NO FEAR"! Only, ONE night was I in fear, but it was HIM assuring me; HE was still in control and still there! SGM Rick Smith Civil Affairs (Mosul, Ghazni, Gardez)

Response by 1SG David Williams made Mar 18 at 2016 10:37 PM

2016-03-18T22:37:05-04:00

Yes
God had be looking after me and the people that were with me both in Vietnam and Desert Storm.
David

Response by 1SG John Highfill made Feb 10 at 2020 6:51 AM

2020-02-10T06:51:05-05:00

Religion never hurt any Soldier