Posted on 02/24/2006 9:39:55 PM PST by churchillbuff
Rumsfield is a closet Muslim, everybody knows that. Rove too!
I served, and There was one time, when a brand new chaplain maid the rounds, and I (being an atheist) joked about being a wiccan, I was willing to make such a silly statement cuz at the time (it was a VERY brief period of time) I was a bit of a golden boy, and I SWEAR TO GOD! (if there is one) This young, asian baptist 2lou chaplain arrived at my dorm (yeah, It's not that bad a life) and asked if wanted to talk, at which point he handed me his FRIGGEN PHONE! and there was a friggen dude claiming to be a wiccan on the phone.
I immediately hung up and appologized to the chaplain, and then he sat down, had a beer and we talked.
Chaplains are servicemembers just like others, they chose to not prosceletize (spelling?) their faith, ONLY so they can serve the needs of the men and women who serve their nation. Like I mentioned, I'm not a believe, but it is JUST as noble, and altruistic on the parts of chaplains to NOT force those they counsel into a particular faith, in fact, they tend to go out of their way to connect their "flock," though it is not the same flock they envision, with their shepherd.
and, unlike all other officer Corps, it is the chaplins who are at their best at their earliest.
Stopped right there..Flat out wrong if not a outright falsehood
See http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/200464.asp
The old adage that there are no atheists in foxholes does not appear to apply as much as it used to. It turns out that the active duty troops in the American armed forces are somewhat less religious than the population as a whole.
Americans over all are 78 percent Christian, 1.3 percent Jewish, .5 percent Moslem, .4 percent Hindu, 13 percent unknown or none and the rest various other sects and faiths. But the troops are 55 percent Christian, .3 percent Moslem, .27 percent Jewish, .04 percent Hindu, .24 percent Buddhist and 34 percent unknown or no preference.
Part of this may be a generational thing, as the troops are younger than the population as a whole. People become more religious as they get older. Another factor is probably education, as the high education standards for recruits means those in uniform have several years more formal education than their civilian peers. More literate too, as people in uniform read at a level a full year ahead of civilians. As people become more educated, they tend to be less religious.
Less chaplins, more troops.
Pure atheistic arrogance and hubris.
It's called "statistics."
It's sort of like "As people become more educated, they tend to be less conservative."
The function of the chaplain is to guard the First Amendment Rights of the soldier. This has not been done. Chaplains who buck the lione officers are not supported by the chief of chaplains.
Depends on what is meant by "educated." One can be educated inb line with the doctrines of the Third Reich. Nazis also had contempt for Christianity and thought of themselves as "progressives."
True. Education is not synonymous with knowledge, hence the term "educated idiot".
In my opinion, if you are thinking about risking your eternal existence in the afterlife because you have conned yourself into believing that you have a better grasp on the Universe than Jesus Christ, C.S. Lewis, Einstein, Moses and Muhammed did, I would reccomend that you at least consult with someone that is equipped with the mental fortitude to spell out both sides of the arguement in a way that someone like yourself can understand.
The very fact that you call yourself an atheist when you are clearly agnostic at best tells me that you should do a little more research. I suggest God In the Docks by CS Lewis. It is not an attempt to sway you one way or the other, but a collection of debates that CS Lewis had with religious figures that took place while he was atheist. He then discusses the path he took as a result of those debates to becoming a man of faith. Just a thought.
No - the function of the chaplain is to either "perform or provide religious support" to all members of the military, the families, retirees, and civilian employees. I know - I wrote the Religious Support Manual for the Army that was published in 1993-4 time frame
Litekeeper
Chaplain, US Army, retired
Agnosticism requires an acknowledgement of a KNOWING lord. I don't believe that.
I don't intend to offend you Willy, to tell the truth, I envy you. Truth is I lack faith in a LOT more than just the divine. :)
However? I envy your faith (not cuz I'm superior, but because in fact I KNOW I'm a lesser man, who sometimes has bigger arguments, but an argument only gets you into a fight :) I'm an Atheist, because the "god" I hope for, is not a loving one, but an indifferent one, I PRAY, not for an eternal joy, and satisfaction in the presence of absolute goodness, but rather, I pray for the indifferent god of absolute and eternal blackness. Close my mind, and let me rest.
And I have read, I've Sought out meaning throughout most of my life, and the bible did not suite me, and I like to think I am a good person, I have done good things, FAR more than bad, and I have always regretted and appologized, not to god, but to the person I wronged. If there is a Christian god? he should still accept me, because I accept the teachings of Jesus, though I do not name him god or prophet.
If God is so fickle that he can't accpet that? then F him.
I disagree.
Of course.
Question? If you ever felt the urge to punch someone, but were affraid to get hit who would you punch?
The person who accepts the strike, and responds with love? or the person who doesn't give you the chance to lash out and kills your family?
That is why the MSM is full of crap, and why the anti-christian, CHRISTIAN motive of all aspects of the US government is intolerable.
Sounds like you have a lot of problems.
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