Posted on 07/30/2009 7:17:44 AM PDT by nmh
PENTAGON BURNS OUR SOLDIERS BIBLES
BREAKING NEWS: Pentagon Burns Soldiers Bibles - Military Chaplains Attacked
BY CHAPLAIN GORDON JAMES KLINGENSCHMITT, UPDATED 5 JULY 09
A Pentagon spokesman under the Obama Administration recently acknowledged and defended seizing and burning the privately owned Bibles of American soldiers serving in Afghanistan. The Bibles had been printed in the local Pashto and Dari languages, and sent by private donors last year (under the Bush Administration) to American Christian soldiers and chaplains, for distribution to American troops on overseas military bases during optionally-attended Christian worship services. Had the Bibles not been recently seized and destroyed (as verified and defended by the Obama Administration), they could have legally been given as gifts during off-duty time to Afghani citizens who welcome our troops in their homes, as an expression of American gratitude for Afghani hospitality, promoting the democratic ideals of freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom to print and distribute Christian Bibles like the new Afghani Constitution specifically allows.
But the Muslim controlled Al Jazeera television network obtained video footage of the Bibles, held by American soldiers while listening to a chaplain on the Bagram Air Base (inside the base chapel) whose sermon encouraged outreach and personal evangelism. The American values of freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of Christian speech easily offended some extremist Muslim groups, (who apparently hate their own Constitution) and angered a small group of American atheists, who demanded the chaplain be punished for "proselytizing" because he simply repeated Jesus' words to "Go and make disciples of all nations" in church. (Can you imagine their outrage if we burned the Koran, instead of the Bible?)
(Excerpt) Read more at prayinJesusname.org ...
Nope!
Under the Afghan Constitution, the Afgan people have Freedom of Religion. The Afgan people are allowed to accept GIFTS. The Bible in their language qualifies as a “gift”. A gift can be accepted or rejected as easily as a soccer ball or a chocolate bar. Giving out a chocolate bar or a soccer ball isn't forcing anyone to eat chocolate, or play soccer. Nor is allowing people to choose if they want a Bible - “proselytizing”. It's just another choice and no one is forcing anyone to be a Christian - and under Afgan laws - they too have the right to Freedom of Religion and worship.
Under the Afgan Freedom of Religion in their Constitution, this is what we would want to do if we want lasting peace. Genuine Christianity is the ONLY civilized religion. The purpose of the military is not to “convert” but they should be allowed to do this IF it is something they'd like to do.
Hey, if you want to follow Obama, that's also a choice!
Do you have a link on that from a credible source?
TIA!
I’ve heard some say “Treat it like a family member and bury it with a prayer service”, especially if it has been blessed by a priest. Others say to burn it or recycle it.
Here is ABC reporting on the same story, the military did destroy the bibles instead of returning them to the source.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254544/posts
Thank you. Enough said on this article.
Anything made of paper will burn if you soak it with enough kerosene.
LOL!
I wouldn't give that transparent trash that much credit!
Although he is setting the stage for very bad things ... .
Will he be successful in that for the real one?
You're probably right. Still, visualize the reaction if a Muslim US soldier proselytizing to Catholics had his Quran taken and burned. I'm getting real tired of one-way "tolerance".
Genuine Christianity is the ONLY civilized religion................................ I don’t know about that, the Chinese have done well with theirs and it dates back BC. Then again every religion believes they are civilized, even those who worship trees.
Under the Afgan Constitution that we, the U.S. under Bush helped them carve out, this is all LEGAL. And still, you want to trash the progress made in fear of them being influenced by Christianity.
Go figure!
I dare say, without apology, that Christianity is the ONLY civilized religion. Many won't believe but many who don't believe do respect the tenets of Biblical Christianity. Expect NO PEACE anywhere without it.
Thanks for the info on the Afghan constitution. What I was referring to though, were the agreements we made with the Afghan government concerning guidelines for our soldiers while remaining in Afghanistan. I don’t know for sure, but I think it is an important question to have the answer to before we get too outraged.
“I’m getting real tired of one-way “tolerance”.”
Mega Dittos on that score.
B. is true. But there are always nutcases like ex chaplain Gordon James Klingernchmidtt who are prepared to lose a war.
“Anything made of paper will burn if you soak it with enough kerosene.”
Anything that fits in a trash can will take much less time and effort to dispose of, (and would seem much less satanic than burning Bibles).
Clearly you are unfamiliar with world history.
I speak of GENUINE Bible based Christianity not Catholicism that tyrannize people, murdered people and tortured people.
As for the Chinese - LOL!!! Have you read ANYTHING about their dynasties?
Are you familiar with Environmentalists - those that “worship trees”? And you see THEM as tolerant and peace loving people? LOL!!!!
Get real!
What BS, that is and was nothing more than an attempt to do back door missionary work. Not the duty of the united states military.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.