Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: West Point cadet drops out to protest influence of fundamentalist Christianity [View all]Overseas
(12,121 posts)69. Excellent article on the crusade for a Christian military by Jeff Sharlet
http://harpers.org/archive/2009/05/jesus-killed-mohammed/
a small clip:
a small clip:
When Barack Obama moved into the Oval Office in January, he inherited a military not just drained by a two-front war overseas but fighting a third battle on the home front, a subtle civil war over its own soul. On one side are the majority of military personnel, professionals who regardless of their faith or lack thereof simply want to get their jobs done; on the other is a small but powerful movement of Christian soldiers concentrated in the officer corps. Theres Major General Johnny A. Weida, who as commandant at the Air Force Academy made its National Day of Prayer services exclusively Christian, and also created a code for evangelical cadets: whenever Weida said, Airpower, they were to respond Rock Sir!a reference to Matthew 7:25. (The general told them that when non-evangelical cadets asked about the mysterious call-and-response, they should share the gospel.) Theres Major General Robert Caslencommander of the 25th Infantry Division, a.k.a. Tropic Lightningwho in 2007 was found by a Pentagon inspector generals report to have violated military ethics by appearing in uniform, along with six other senior Pentagon officers, in a video for the Christian Embassy, a fundamentalist ministry to Washington elites. Theres Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp, the Army chief of engineers, who has also lent his uniform to the Christian cause, both in a Trinity Broadcasting Network tribute to Christian soldiers called Red, White, and Blue Spectacular and at a 2003 Billy Graham rallytelevised around the world on the Armed Forces Networkat which he declared the baptisms of 700 soldiers under his command evidence of the Lords plan to raise up a godly army.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
96 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
West Point cadet drops out to protest influence of fundamentalist Christianity [View all]
kpete
Dec 2012
OP
This is a growing problem in the military and I hope we can overcome it in time.
LiberalLoner
Dec 2012
#1
now we just have an economic draft. a universal draft had this benefit: if things got too extreme,
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#88
I agree - A universal draft into public service would democratize the military.
Thunderbeast
Dec 2012
#17
I wish I could recommend this post. SO true. It is a slippery slope we are headed down
loudsue
Dec 2012
#58
If We Had a Draft, a Whole Generation Would Have been Subject to this Forced Fundie indoctrination
AndyTiedye
Dec 2012
#75
You need to visit the 'Military Religious Freedom Foundation' site.They keep an eye on the problem:
Are_grits_groceries
Dec 2012
#3
Agreed. I watched the founder of MRFF, Mikey Weinstein, on C-Span & what he had to say scared
whathehell
Dec 2012
#54
Admire him. Unfortunately, he's just the kind of person we do need in West Point.
Baitball Blogger
Dec 2012
#12
Yeah it seems the fundie nutjobs have taken over all our military institutions.
Initech
Dec 2012
#18
Swearing to uphold the constitution and then letting religious nuts run things.
Initech
Dec 2012
#16
Wasn't there a gay marriage that was recently held in the West Point chapel?
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
Dec 2012
#19
My son, a former Marine (8 years) said the proselytizing by fundamentalist Christians
stanwyck
Dec 2012
#34
How about considering the closing of all military academies paid for by the government?
olegramps
Dec 2012
#45
That only reinforces my point. Their education is paid for and then they leave the service.
olegramps
Dec 2012
#92
Funny how the least Christian of environments tend to have the most outspoken ones.
raouldukelives
Dec 2012
#49
Looks kind of like some people have more of a need for strong external support for values they say
patrice
Dec 2012
#57
There was an incredible Harper's article on the AF Academy a few years back.
DirkGently
Dec 2012
#59