I didn't see a thread for news stories pertaining to religion and how it is handled by our respective governments. I thought it would be nice to have a place to put news items that may not be worthy of their own thread, as this is an on-going ever changing subject. If it seems like a good topic to discuss in length then a new topic can be started.
1st news item coming soon.
Edited by fearandloathing, : No reason given.
Edited by fearandloathing, : teddible grammar
"No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten." — Hunter S. Thompson
Air Force Suspends “Christian Just War Theory” Class for Missile Officers
It is hard for me to believe it took 20 years for someone to complain, I guess this slipped by the American Atheist.
quote:The U.S. Air Force has cancelled a course entitled “Christian Just War Theory” that was required for all nuclear missile launch officers, reported the Associated Press. The course, which has been taught for the past 20 years by military chaplains at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, is being revised following complaints by some participants that Scripture was used by teachers to show that war can be a moral endeavor, explained David Smith, a spokesman for the Air Force Air Education and Training Command. While the Air Force once felt the Bible-based training was necessary “because of the nature of the job” missile officers might be called upon to do, Smith said, it is now considered inappropriate in a society that has become increasingly pluralistic.
According to CNN, the Air Force suspended the ethics class “after 31 missile launch officers reported the religious nature of the briefing to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation,” a secular watchdog group that targets faith in the armed forces. Mikey Weinstein, a spokesman for the organization, said that there were several things the missile officers “found disgusting. The first was the fact that there is actually a slide that makes it clear that they’re trying to teach that, under fundamentalist Christian doctrine, war is a good thing.”
The most moral thing would be to get rid of all nukes, but since that isn't going to happen any time soon then the air force needs to come up with some type of replacement for this class. Maybe the navy could give them a few tips?..
Edited by fearandloathing, : spelling
"No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten." — Hunter S. Thompson
quote:Shouldn't veterans and their families have the right to decide whether religion -- and what kind -- is welcome at their own funerals? The Department of Veterans Affairs says yes. But three Texas Congressman and Christian military organizations want to strip away this basic right. Instead, they want to be allowed to impose unwanted Christian ceremonies on the military funerals of everybody who has served the red, white, and blue.
Doesn't Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas). know that we already have the Westboro Baptist Church.
quote:Leaders of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church today vowed to "quadruple" the number of protests at military funerals around the country following a Supreme Court ruling that the displays are protected under the First Amendment.
Here is another example of religion and prayer being used as political ammo.
quote:FRANKFORT — A state lawyer's recommendation that the Bell County school district stop allowing prayer over the public-address system at football games has sparked controversy in Kentucky's gubernatorial election.
Republican David Williams, who is challenging Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear in the Nov. 8 election, urged Beshear in a news release Friday "to denounce this attack on prayer at public functions and lead the efforts of state government to defend our citizens' right to voluntarily pray anywhere they choose."
I don't think prayer has a place at a public school football game, a moment of silence wouldn't bother me, but not a prayer of any type being played over the PA.
I could be wrong but it seems that the republicans like to use the 'religious indignation card' as much as possible, especially at election time.
"No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten." — Hunter S. Thompson
"No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten." — Hunter S. Thompson
PART I CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:
Ah but which god/s?...
... perhaps we should ship all the fundamentalists that want to live in a "christian nation" up there ... of course they would have to sign an affidavit that they wouldn't use any of the "socialist" programs in Canada eh? (makes you wonder how a nation so founded would be so socialistic ... surely that's not christian (TFIC*)
Re: Air Force Suspends “Christian Just War Theory” Class for Missile Officers
I'd heard years ago about fundamentalists taking over the Air Force Chaplancy, especially at the Academy.
Also while Google'ing on "DivorceCare", a Baptist program I had unfortunately gone through, I found a reference stating that all US Army members going through a divorce are required to go through that program. One leitmotif that runs throughout that program is that you cannot ever recover from divorce; Only Jesus can ever help you recover.
So if you're a Christian (but only of the proper trade-marked variety) then you might have some kind of a chance, but if you aren't, then you are just simply SOL ("sailor out of luck", "soldier out of luck", shit out of luck").
I don't think prayer has a place at a public school football game, a moment of silence wouldn't bother me, but not a prayer of any type being played over the PA.
Matt 6:
quote:5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Re: Air Force Suspends “Christian Just War Theory” Class for Missile Officers
I found a reference stating that all US Army members going through a divorce are required to go through that program
As far as I know they still have daily prayers on some US navy ships, this was going on a year or so ago, not sure what has come of it.
quote:FFRF leads objections to shipboard prayers
On behalf of military members who strongly object to official prayers on board U.S. Navy ships, FFRF drafted and sent a letter, co-signed by several other groups, to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to stop the unconstitutional prayers.
The First Amendment violation is occurring aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (the aircraft carrier President Bush gave his 2003 “Mission Accomplished” speech on), the USS Porter, the USNS Comfort and, most likely, other Navy ships, according to complainants. From FFRF’s Sept. 9 letter:
“It is our information and understanding that Navy personnel broadcast a prayer every night over the intercom system aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. We understand that these prayers are initiated with the announcement ‘Tattoo, tattoo, stand by for the evening prayer.’ One of the four chaplains or a person designated by the chaplains then delivers a prayer. We understand that the prayers, whether delivered by the chaplains or designees, are nearly always in the Christian tradition. We received information that sometimes the religious officiant even recites passages from the bible, including verses from the New Testament.
By Eric Pfeiffer, The Washington Times, March 23, 2006
A new Navy policy that encourages chaplains to use only "nonsectarian" language outside of divine services has prompted criticism that regulating prayer services violates the chaplains' First Amendment rights.
Under new rules signed by Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, chaplains of all faiths in the Navy are asked to consider the views of their audience before invoking specific religious beliefs in prayer
Edited by fearandloathing, : Added word 'some' for clarity, not sure it happens on all ships
"No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten." — Hunter S. Thompson
Re: Air Force Suspends “Christian Just War Theory” Class for Missile Officers
Huh. This all must be a somewhat recent phenomenon. I served on board a US Navy warship between 1987 - 1991 (jeez, was it really that long ago?) and there were no daily prayers that I remember. I think there probably was some kind of service held on Sundays when we weren't in port for whoever wanted to show up.
Re: Air Force Suspends “Christian Just War Theory” Class for Missile Officers
I couldn't find much of anything about it, seems the complaint focused on the USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS Porter, the USNS Comfort. I would think it probably has a lot to do with who the commanding officer is. He was probably told to tone it down and keep it within navy regs. I don't think it is thing that is done on all navy ships? If was a practice on all navy ships then I would imagine the media would have jumped on it.
"No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten." — Hunter S. Thompson
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