(Air Force Times) Backtalk: Holidays offer chance to reflect on religion-military balance

[unhappycamper]

Holidays offer chance to reflect on religion-military balance
By Robert F. Dorr

What is the proper role of religion in the military workplace and in the war zone?

Judging from mail I’ve received from readers, service members have no problem when bosses or buddies talk in a general way about spirituality in the back shops or on the battlefield.

However, military members are not all comfortable when the talk becomes specific to Christianity. Even when the issue seems innocuous — one unit planned a “Christmas party” until troops asked the commander to make it a “holiday party” — some military members don’t want sectarian beliefs extolled in a work setting.

More important, most troops don’t want others, especially those of higher rank, trying to convert them. That’s called proselytizing, and it’s not supposed to be permitted in the workplace.

Most of us know what is appropriate and what isn’t. But the line gets crossed too often. A sampling:


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_backtalk_religion_122208/%2e



uhc comment: Kinda reminds me of Lt. Gen. William "I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol" Boykin --> http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1016-01.htm