What Role Does Religion Play Within Our Military?

The founders were religious and made prohibitions against the government controlling religion.

So prevent the government from controlling religion, wouldn't the opposite also have to be true?

And how do you propose that religion is contolling the government? Because it inculcates a system of values? The government doesn't tell you what to believe or what church to attend. It doesn't make you have certain faith practices or to observe certain religious holidays (although I've never met a non-Christian that didn't take part in the half day work schedule over the Christmas holiday). In fact the prohibitions were so that the government could not do that. But it was not intended to keep people's faith from government. "Endowed by their Creator", but it is up to the individual to determine their "Creator".

Yes, any disagreement (I don't have one with you, I've enjoyed the points you made), may be in the term "secular". I still think we can all agree though that the founding fathers were men of faith, and I belive it was their individual convictions, based on that faith, which led them to develop our governnent in the way they did. But the original post, if I recall correctly, covered much more than that, but also about leadership. Although, I don't necessarily agree of the original posts authors discussion with his CO was proper, I don't necessarily think it was improper for two men to have a conversation. I do disagree that the original author felt, at least to some extent ostracized by his command, that should have never happened. But I also believe that young leader should not make the same mistakes and consider the faith of his subordinates and not as a bad thing. It's good to see you've studied the founding documents, but remember, the founding fathers were like us, simply men, and they carried their faith while establishing this county. Faith is a matter of deep, personal conviction, and yours should be respected as much as the next guys and likewise returned.

Are you going to explain it or just sit in the corner (with a picture of a corner, to boot) like a creeper and just throw out demeaning comments? What is there to get?

Now, like the picture? Second, it doesn't look like you want any explanation, just an online rant like a child. I don't play with children. Do yourself a favor and study American history. It has all of the explanation you need.

Much better. So I studied our history, very fascinating stuff, what about it? Sure, it explains a lot, but more recent Supreme Court rulings have suggested that faith can be used to override secular law, will this apply to the military as well? Other comments suggest (or plainly state) that their faith will override military regulation if they feel there is a conflict, how far does this go?

Very good quotes, all relating to religion particularly Christianity. None saying that government needed protection against religion. As for President Washington he prayed to the Christian God as president especially when he addressed congress. As General Washington he prayed to the Christian God with his troops daily. So reading is fundamental comprehension is essential. I would compare your opinions/interpretation with other Constitutional authorities those who have studied it for decades and not just one or two. Please keep posting. I am not attacking but I learn so much from others like you especially when they see things differently.
Stay strong brother.

From what I have read (and obviously that isn't going to be much out of our vast history), we have long sought to defend our government from religion, and the faithful from themselves. For religion to be protected from the government, mustn't the opposite also be true? One of our founders called the Christianity of his time, "the most perverted system that has ever shone on man." I wonder what he would think of it today? The religious quotes from our history almost always reference Christians because they have always made up the majority of the populace and therefore have typically been the most belligerent when it comes to our secularism. Part of the original post was in response to recent rulings that have turned corporations into people, money into speech, and religion into a shield against secular law. How far does this go? Will we ever revert back to our original motto of, "E pluribus unum" or will we go even further into the rabbit hole and declare, "In Jesus we trust" on our currency and pledge? With more and more of our chaplaincy identifying as evangelical (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/21/1346391/-Evangelical-military-chaplains-the-800-pound-gorilla#), how do we ensure our soldier's religious rights are protected from the overtly faithful? What happens when Airmen are forced to swear "so help me God" as part of their (re)enlistment oath? Can we assume these things will be taken care of by our supposedly secular government? Is this something we always have to watch out for or is there something we can do here and now to prevent further incidents?

Sorry that was kind of a weird rant, I had a better response but I accidentally deleted it before I posted. Too bad my response wasn't Christian or it would have been saved! *badum ching!*

SGT Alex Alt - Well we will never agree but I respect your beliefs and your right to have them. I think if you made the military an organization void of religion which I think is what you want the number of volunteers will drop drastically.
Even if you do not believe in God do you want you rights to be defined by "men" who no doubt will give you what they want you to have in order to control you.
Before our Constitution our fore fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence and in it they wrote "“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,— That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

"Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights"

So I just don't see our government needing protection from religion at least not from Christian religion. that is the only religion you can attack and not fear being killed or even scolded.

Those are a lot of great quotes in support of your argument that the United States was not founded as a Christian nation. However, you should have included the full text. For instance, the first George Washington quotes says "If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the Convention, where I had the honor to preside, might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it; and if I could now conceive that the general government might ever be so administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution. For you, doubtless, remember that I have often expressed my sentiment, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience." http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/collection/other_1789may10.html

2) We have abundant reason to rejoice that in this Land the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of bigotry and superstition, and that every person may here worship God according to the dictates of his own heart. In this enlightened Age and in this Land of equal liberty it is our boast, that a man's religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the Laws, nor deprive him of the right of attaining and holding the highest Offices that are known in the United States. http://westillholdthesetruths.org/quotes/469/we-have-abundant-reason-to-rejoice

5) “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” This was from the treaty of Tripoli, in which the USMC just defeated the Barbary Pirates (aka Muslim invaders). However, if you look at the Treaty of Paris (also co-written by John Adams) you will find the opening statement “In the Name of the most holy and undivided Trinity.” This seems like a pretty strong statement in favor of Christianity.

Anyway, the point of your question was not for us to argue the existence of God, but whether chaplains have a place in the military. I used to think there was no place for it. I used to think that the chaplains and their assistants were filling up slots that could have been filled by warfighters. I have come around in the last few years and I see them as a vital part of our spiritual health. The chaplain helps to serve as our moral compass. Whether you believe in God or not, the Bible can still provide a good set of rules to follow. Many of our laws are based on scripture. Thou shalt not kill, or steal; pretty good set of rules. I know many will argue that we don't need the Bible to remind us not to steal or kill. I would argue that we also don't need to be reminded annually that we shouldn't rape our fellow Soldiers, but we still get reminded. In general I support having chaplains in the military, as long as they can remain impartial. For instance; the Koran and the Bible conflict. The Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God and to beware of false prophets. The Koran says that Jesus was just a prophet and that Mohammed is the last prophet. If a chaplain is ordained in one religion they may have a difficult time remaining religiously neutral when it comes to issues of faith. Would a Christian chaplain be able to perform a Muslim prayer, or vice versa? Would a Christian accept communion from a Muslim chaplain? It does seem like there could be a conflict.

Issues of faith can create friction and moral dilemmas. As long as we treat each other with the respect required of our rank and position, then our ideologies should never be an issue.

After receiving IDF on a daily basis for a year, I didn't thank god for surviving. You can ascert that I am lying but that doesn't make it true.

I didn't say people all thanked God, just that IDF or IEDs or any close call tend to make one see their lives as fragile. Whether it is luck, training or God or whatever you want to credit for it. Maybe just the after action of Holy cats that was close! I didn't mean to allude that all suddenly converted in a firefight. Lol

Thanks for the clarification. Cheers.