How do you feel about faith in the military?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:09:36 -0500

I am a very proud Hellenic Pagan, and I often get told things like "pick a different religion," and "You made that up; its not a real religion." So, though this is mostly directed at my "unusual" believers (those who are not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish), I am eager for your input on the subject. What are your thoughts on faith and it's conflicts in the military today? How do you deal with them?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 11:14 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:14:18 -0500

The most popular religion in US is christian (baptist or catholic), I think. I think it shouldn't be referenced much as it can alienate many who follow something else or nothing at all. However, I say again, USA is seemingly primarily christian country. When I addressed Soldiers, I'd try to make it known that I know there are other religions and that I respect them. It's one of those things (beside money and politics) that can affect morale and working environment very negatively.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 2 at 2016 11:17 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:17:54 -0500

Ahhh, One of my Favorite Topics Religion. My Ancestors in Scotland (Calvinist & Catholics) and my Ancestors in Germany (Catholics, Protestant & Jews) have been killing each other over it for a long time. As long as you are not proselytizing about it. I don't have a Problem with it. In my time if you were proselytizing, you were an excellent candidate for Oscar the Man Overboard Dummy that we thru overboard for Man Overboard Drills.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 2 at 2016 11:27 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:27:40 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member I wish that I had really found my calling before leaving the Navy. It would have changed everything. Faith is something that an individual feels. It is the individual's personal relationship with the divine. That is totally unrelated to religion. Religion too often is a destroyer of faith. Religion leads to a single thinking. Faith is like any other aspect of the persona. Even two like minded individuals will have points that they do not view the same. I would guess that you have built a relationship with your gods and goddesses as they call to you. That is what makes your faith different from that of any other Hellenic Pagan. You believe in the same group of gods, but the relationship you have with them is different. So how do you deal with them? the answer is you don't. Keep your faith personal. Keep it strong. Take strength from that. When the excrement strikes the oscillating air cooling device, nobody cares what your faith is. They care that you are there for them like they are there for you. That is the most important thing. The more you show by your actions that you are a part of the team, the less anyone is going to care about your "quirky" spiritual beliefs.

Response by MAJ Susan Grimm made Mar 2 at 2016 11:28 AM

MAJ Susan Grimm — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:28:33 -0500

As long as your values and mores align with those of the military, and your behavior reflects the best of military ethics and military core values, your faith should be a personal choice.
I don't know what you mean by "conflict". If you mean conflict with co-workers I recommend you take my grandma's advice and avoid discussing religion or politics.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Mar 2 at 2016 11:30 AM

SSG Ed Mikus — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:30:29 -0500

religion only needs to be real inside yourself, if your religion doesn't impact the mission or break the law, i'm good with it. As for why you choose it and people trying to convince you to change, as long as you have a reason for your choice stick to it until YOU have a reason to find different faith.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 2 at 2016 11:32 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:32:47 -0500

Since this is posted in Faith I am responding SPC Private RallyPoint Member. I have enjoyed studying history for over 50 years and spent my first 30 years as a hostile agnostic with no absolute faith in anything. Faith only make sense if it is absolute and you are willing to die for it. Radicalized thugs will kill for their faith and in some cases die for it. I was a young infantry officer when the radical group Act Up was acting out their faith in confrontational ways - that was before don't ask and don't tell was implemented. There were open homosexuals in my infantry battalion which puzzled me because it was grounds for separation in those days. Act Up disappeared after all the members died - generally horrible deaths.
The past 15 years we have seen an increase in Wahhabi Islam inspired faith which is very confrontational and has no concept of compromise. Many of us have been directly or indirectly affected by Wahhabi Muslim followers faith including al Qaeda and ISIS.
In the 1978 we saw Jim Jones destroy people who had faith in him and blindly followed him from San Francisco to Guyana. In the 1997 Heaven's Gate committed mass suicide.
I was a defiant agnostic for 30 years and just before age 31 I recognized I needed a savior because my efforts to saved myself had proved destructively futile. At that point I placed my full faith in the atonement of my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Mar 2 at 2016 12:37 PM

SSG Drew Cook — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 12:37:49 -0500

I always felt like the military needed better diversity around chaplainhoood (is that a word?).

I'm not religious, but I got tired of standing around to hear the same, boring chaplain give the same prayer at every event. I realize that there is a Christian majority in the Armed Forces, but I think it would help to enlighten many on what other kinds of people there are that serve around you.

Response by LTC J. Lee Mudd made Mar 2 at 2016 1:00 PM

LTC J. Lee Mudd — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:00:24 -0500

SPC Pietrantonio-
As a fellow pagan (Gaelic Polytheist), I get your question. My recommendation is to be honest about your practice, but wait until asked to discuss it. For many folks there is a fine line between free expression of religion and proselytizing. Honor the divinities, the spirits and the ancestors as you wish, just don't be annoying about it.
Khai're!

Response by SPC Joshua Heath made Mar 2 at 2016 1:06 PM

SPC Joshua Heath — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:06:53 -0500

I am a Heathen and I run an organization called The Open Halls Project that supports heathen service members. Our faiths are just as legitimate as the Judeo-Christian ones. Keep doing what you are doing and know that there are others in and out that support you.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 2:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 14:55:02 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member, kudos for asking a question on a serious and personal concern in a polite, adult manner. You have every right to believe howsoever you wish to. I am not religious but I respect those who don't share my faith. A good friend of mine is pagan while I have others, including family, who are Jewish, Catholic, Atheist, etc. We all respect each others beliefs although I have seen some from nearly every group discriminate against someone of another faith. Many years ago in a former unit, I was discriminated against by a group of pagans led by the BN XO who did not like my beliefs. Regardless of who it is, we should be willing to listen and respect the other person without name-calling, profanity, or insults.

Response by SSG James Arlington made Mar 2 at 2016 4:48 PM

SSG James Arlington — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:48:35 -0500

My religion is hedonism. Now, it's time for my hot toddy!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 5:54 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:54:46 -0500

When dealing with shoulders I prefer never to make comments or bring up politics or religion. These two things are the most divisive topics in any workplace.

Response by SGT Travis Deuley made Mar 3 at 2016 9:12 AM

SGT Travis Deuley — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:12:39 -0500

The military that we have in the United States, is comprised of Pagans, Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, Pastafarians, etc. There should be absolutely no religious, or faith based bias. A superior should not base actions on their religion, rather they should base them on military doctrine, and military values. Personally, I am an atheist. I come from a church family, however, I have never bought into any religious, or spiritual mindset. I prefer to base my actions on logic, reason, and altruism. I would never berate another for their beliefs, and as long as their beliefs did not in some way affect the mission, or the morale of my troops, I could care less what beliefs they hold.

Now, we have probably all heard of, or experienced the cliques that form in the military. Yes, this is something that is very real, and can be detrimental. Exclusionary groups have no place in the military. After all, we are all part of a whole, and the religion of that whole is Duty.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Mar 3 at 2016 11:12 AM

CPT Mark Gonzalez — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 11:12:56 -0500

For me I sometimes find myself in conflict with my military duties as a professional and my personal conservative religious views. I have had to seek religious support regarding moral conflict/injury as it can really take a toll on you to execute duties that you are feel are counter to your religion. The Army expects you to have Army Values though and not your own more conservative or liberal Values.

I often have to counsel Soldiers in crisis due to various life events and ones going through tremendous difficulties in their marriage. I sometimes counsel them on the value of exploring their religion personally and in their relationship as part of a total person concept.

I believe talking about religion with your Soldiers makes you better a leader. You don't have to steer them to a particular faith, but being willing to talk about religion, personal relationships, finances or other more taboo areas shows you truly care about them and these are very important aspects of their well-being.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 6:55 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 06:55:28 -0500

I am a follower of a Judeo-Christian religion, but not a church goer, I am for anyone to practice what they feel is right. but I think the branches themselves should be without any references to any religious icons, including Judeo-Christian ones. not to avoid offending members, but to avoid enforcing a certain viewpoint over any other.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 28 at 2021 1:11 AM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 01:11:55 -0500

Your religion is not my business, unless you want it to be.