Posted on Dec 5, 2015
LTC Jason Strickland
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Take the time to read this short article and let the rest of our RallyPoint community know your thoughts on religious expression in our armed forces. The author opines that US Air Force Academy players praying in the end zone before a football game is taboo - and reflects a much larger problem of religious expression in the military. While cadets don't necessarily reflect the military establishment as a whole, this does stimulate an excellent conversation. Do you agree? If you're the supervisor of a unit, how would you respond? Ultimately, is this an authorized activity under UCMJ?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-b-wilkerson/religion-in-iraq-syria-af_b_8711724.html
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 47
PO2 Peter Klein
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Keep it to yourself!
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CDR William Kempner
CDR William Kempner
>1 y
. I certainly understand resentment at some of the evangelical proselytizing (notably at USAFA as stated) However, I think a well-meant blessing on our troops/crew/bn or at a graduation is not something to take offense at. As I like to say, I'm a pretty direct person. IF I MEANT to cause offense, YOU WOULD KNOW!
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PO2 Peter Klein
PO2 Peter Klein
>1 y
Commander, how do you feel about a blessing at one of the events you mentioned, that is obviously geared to a specific religion and there are participants from other religions in the group?
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SFC Joseph Weber
SFC Joseph Weber
>1 y
CW4 (Join to see) - Buckner is probably the most bigoted person on Rallybook. He probably blocked you since all he wants to hear is people who agree with his warped views.
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CDR William Kempner
CDR William Kempner
>1 y
PO2 Peter Klein It depends on what they are saying. If they ask for blessings on ALL, and finish "in the name of the father and the son, and the holy spirit" or "in the name of Allah' , depending on the religion of the clergyman, I'd just say "Amen". You have to consider what is being said, and how it is being said. If a blessing is asked for ALL, and the clergyman/person ends it with the blessing from their faith, you just smile and go with it. I find the evangelicals a hard swallow myself, as though MY Christian faith is not as good as THEIR Christian faith-a load of baloney. But I do think that people in 2015 are way too interested in taking offense where none is meant.
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TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
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3700d880
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TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
>1 y
Proverbs 8:34-36

Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death." (NKJV).

sent via Living Word App

tinyurl.com/msql7sc
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TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
>1 y
20f52bc2
POTUS OBUMA.. Hear this!!!...
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MAJ Hugh Blanchard
MAJ Hugh Blanchard
8 y
The quote from Eleanor Roosevelt is really rich. Her husband was one of the greatest masters of the art of saying nothing, but saying it in such a way as to make it sound really important. If he had told the American people what he really intended to do with the nation's economy and with America's foreign and security policies, he would probably have been impeached.
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SGT Christopher Churilla
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Edited >1 y ago
Read the article, the part that troubles me the most is the quote by a player who says there is pressure to participate in order to be considered part of the team. Exercise of religion is the only activity in the military that is optional--or at least it's supposed to be, but this is setting up these people to expect this sort of thing when they enter the active force, and that is an EO incident waiting to happen.
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LTC Jason Strickland
LTC Jason Strickland
>1 y
You might be right, SGT Christopher Churilla!
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SGT Christopher Churilla
SGT Christopher Churilla
>1 y
LTC Jason Strickland I know this might be an odd position coming from a person with my MOS, but I believe there is a misconception that the chaplain is only there to promote Christianity, and that is not the case. A chaplain's job is to ensure the free expression of ALL religions (and that includes atheists).
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SrA Matthew Knight
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Anything they can find to whine about I guess. From what I read a few players stood out of the prayer circle and that's fine. As long as it wasn't forced these people need to quit their whining and complaining. If the players want to pray before they play then let them. There's nothing wrong with it. If you don't like it, don't bow your head. Wait the 30 seconds it takes for them to finish and enjoy the game.
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SSG Edward Tilton
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I am against it. I don't want my GOD or anyone elses used as an excuse to kill
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LT Brad McInnis
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I honestly don't understand all the problems. I worked with and for, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Wiccans, Atheists, Buddhists and many others.
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
3 y
Ditto, never gave it any consideration.
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Maj John Bell
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Edited 8 y ago
I am a Christian. I follow a don't ask don't tell policy when it comes to my faith. I say grace before I consume a meal or a snack, but in settings where other people might feel awkwardly included, I go to the "prayer closet". In a public setting like a restaurant I don't make a show of it, but I'm not going to the "prayer closet". If people ask about my faith, I'm not telling, until I know why they are curious about it. Even then it is in tiny servings and they've got to ask for more.
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PO2 Katie Benson
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I respect my shipmates, regardless of their religious preferences!
That being said, I will assume they will offer me the same respect.
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LTC Jason Strickland
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PO3 Electrician's Mate
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as long as they are not forcing me to do any of it.

If you give in by peer pressure ... that mean you don't have "it" in your faith anyway :P lol
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CDR William Kempner
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I am aware of some of the practices at USAFA, and I think they were out of line. If I'm not mistaken a USAFA grad, MIkey Weinstein, has been tasked by BHO to address that. Unfortunately, like any other of these things, the baby gets thrown out with the bath water. There is a reason we HAVE chaplains. And a good interfaith prayer asking for Protection, or blessings from the Almighty, isn't a bad thing, and isn't meant to be hurtful. If you choose not to participate , that's fine. The morons defining the separation of church and state in America in 2015 in reference to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution demand the TOTAL removal of any references to God or a higher power. That is NOT what was meant!! It meant the absence of a state-sponsored religion, in particular, the Church of England, where the head of state was also the head of the church!! It was to avoid a direct connection to any particular church/denomination -thus allowing people to worship freely to whatever god they chose, OR NOT TO! The Declaration of Independence and other documents contain numerous references to a higher power, e g. . "Endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights.." Have another look at the coins in your pocket-"In God We Trust." If that offends you please collect all of them and mail them to me. Address on request (sarcasm) . My point-keep it in perspective.
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LTC Jason Strickland
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PO3 Brad Phlipot
PO3 Brad Phlipot
>1 y
DAMN straight sir! Awesome response.
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