Posted on Nov 18, 2014
Should religion/prayers be included at military events?
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I'm not trying to beat up such a common topic but all the discussion raises a simple question in my mind. Should religion/prayers continue to be included at military events?
I was recently asked if anyone in our in my chain of command advocates for or against a specific religion. My answer was an easy "no" but then I started thinking about it later on. We have prayers at the beginning of most events we attend. Chaplains are leading prayers at everything from PME graduations to promotion ceremonies and so on.
My answer to the original question is still no because I've never seen a leader at any level "push" a specific religion on anyone.
The fact that this is such a hot topic makes it hard for me to understand why prayers are still a staple of most military events. My thought would be to take it out these types of events and end the bickering over it. I believe what I believe and the path I've chosen whether or not someone addresses it at the next formal event.
Please understand these are just my thoughts/opinions and I look at it like nothing more. Also, I do not hold anyone else's opinion against them. I simply think this issue has become more complicated than it should be because everyone is worried about what's been done to accommodate their personal beliefs. I look at it like I don't need anyone else to do these things in such forums to validate my beliefs.
So, do you think prayers should continue to be included at military events?
I was recently asked if anyone in our in my chain of command advocates for or against a specific religion. My answer was an easy "no" but then I started thinking about it later on. We have prayers at the beginning of most events we attend. Chaplains are leading prayers at everything from PME graduations to promotion ceremonies and so on.
My answer to the original question is still no because I've never seen a leader at any level "push" a specific religion on anyone.
The fact that this is such a hot topic makes it hard for me to understand why prayers are still a staple of most military events. My thought would be to take it out these types of events and end the bickering over it. I believe what I believe and the path I've chosen whether or not someone addresses it at the next formal event.
Please understand these are just my thoughts/opinions and I look at it like nothing more. Also, I do not hold anyone else's opinion against them. I simply think this issue has become more complicated than it should be because everyone is worried about what's been done to accommodate their personal beliefs. I look at it like I don't need anyone else to do these things in such forums to validate my beliefs.
So, do you think prayers should continue to be included at military events?
Posted in these groups: 
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Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 59
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In some cases prayer is tastefully done, and in others it's a 5 minute sermon to a captive audience. Why not simply offer a moment of silence so that people can pray/reflect on the event at hand? Best of both worlds, everyone gets to pray/reflect together and no one is abusing the moment to push their theology on everyone else.
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PO2 (Join to see)
I have seen it tastefully done. Usually the terms and phrases are left very generic (e.g., God protect us on this exercise, etc), and a moment of silence is sometimes added at the end for those present to say prayers specific to their beliefs.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG Erick Urias If you worship a God who can't hear the words as you pray them silently or read your heart... you would have a valid point. Is that the case? Making those words audible isn't for the benefit of God, it's for the benefit of the people standing around you, except that not everyone believes as you do or worships your God.
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A1C (Join to see)
SSG Erick Urias - He problem is, not every member is religious. I am atheist and find it very awkward when a prayer is lead at a non-religious ceremony (graduation, promotion etc...)
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A1C (Join to see)
I believe it should not be a part of non-religious ceremonies (graduations, promotions etc...) because everyone in the service isn't religious. I am an atheist, and even had a few fellows in my boot camp that were Lucifarian (satanist). Praying to God may just be awkward to me, and a little offensive, but I get over it. To the satanists out there, it could be extremely disrespectful to their beliefs. Imagine if a satanic priest came forward and offered a "non-denominational" prayer to Lucifer, and you had no choice. Wouldn't you be offended? What about the polytheistic members? Don't you think they find it offensive for people to classify a very specific God as non-denominational? This is not a Christian military as it is not a Christian nation.
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In for a penny or a pound. As far as I have seen I may be the only Senior Army Chaplain that has responded. This seems to only be discussing public ceremonies that are mandatory attendance; changes of command and the like. The Chief of Chaplains' expectation was that his chaplains knew Army Regulation and his policy that we would pray generically so as to not infringe upon the rights and sensitivities of anyone in attendance. Memorials are a little different and are worship services.
That being said there were a few Junior Chaplains who thought is was their "God given right" to step on anyone and everyone's toes as often as possible and to the greatest degree possible. Needless to say they were in violation of both AR and CC policy and hurting every other chaplain who was secure enough in their faith not to beat others over the head to feel better about themselves and their faith.
As far as I know I never stepped on or infringed upon anyone's toes in more than 27 years in both active and reserve service.
That being said there were a few Junior Chaplains who thought is was their "God given right" to step on anyone and everyone's toes as often as possible and to the greatest degree possible. Needless to say they were in violation of both AR and CC policy and hurting every other chaplain who was secure enough in their faith not to beat others over the head to feel better about themselves and their faith.
As far as I know I never stepped on or infringed upon anyone's toes in more than 27 years in both active and reserve service.
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Maj Robert Sugg
CH Davies...agreed on every point save a minor one. I have always treated unit memorial services as a unit event rather than a religious funeral service. I advise the CC that he/she is the point and prayers are offered in the same spirit that you have already mentioned. We may be on the same page. Pax...RAS
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COL Robert Davies
Good evening Maj Sugg. I cannot tell by your uniform your branch. Your rank, Maj, would likely mean AF. I am USA so there is bound to be differences. In the Army you have a Memorial Ceremony, which is a command function, ie. mandatory attendance. The ceremony would be generic Christian if the deceased is Christian. A funeral would be Christian and even possibly denominational if that is the preference. My point of reference is also state-side. Down-range would be the commander's call all the way with the chaplain's input.
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SGT Christina Barron
Yes, Maj Sugg, CH Davies is correct. In Chaplain Assistant school, were are taught that there are two different Memorial events. The Memorial Ceremony is a commander's event, even though it is usually led by the Chaplain, so it is a religiously generic event. And it may or may not be mandatory attendance.
The Memorial Service is a funeral service, complete with appropriate religious rituals for the decedent's beliefs, and thus is completely optional attendance.
We are also taught that only Memorial Ceremonies are conducted down range, that Memorial Services are only done at home.
The Memorial Service is a funeral service, complete with appropriate religious rituals for the decedent's beliefs, and thus is completely optional attendance.
We are also taught that only Memorial Ceremonies are conducted down range, that Memorial Services are only done at home.
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There is a fine line between traditional prayers and overly religious ones. My faith is extremely important to me but I don't want to shove it down anyone's throat. Having said that, the tradition of a prayer before ceremonies goes back to when our country was founded.
I find that at the end, just saying "In Your Name, Amen" really can be a great way of being inclusive yet appeasing many faiths. When we say it in a group, we can still make it a personal comment.
Prayer is a time for reflection, meditation, humbling ourselves, taking a step back to think, among many other benefits. I use it to talk to God, others can use it to do what they see fit as long as it is respectful.
I find that at the end, just saying "In Your Name, Amen" really can be a great way of being inclusive yet appeasing many faiths. When we say it in a group, we can still make it a personal comment.
Prayer is a time for reflection, meditation, humbling ourselves, taking a step back to think, among many other benefits. I use it to talk to God, others can use it to do what they see fit as long as it is respectful.
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CH (LTC) Robert Leroe
I used to end my prayers: "In Your strong and mighty Name, Amen," or "In Your thrice-holy Name, Amen."
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