Air Force Suspends Nuclear Training Course Over Inclusion of Bible Verses
- Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:59am by
Billy Hallowell
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Do the Bible and nuclear military training mix? Some U.S. Air Force members and their supporters say “no way.”
Following debate, the Air Force has suspended a course that was taught by chaplains for more than 20 years after complaints that class material included Biblical passages. CNN reports:
The course, entitled, “Christian Just War Theory,” used passages from both the New and Old Testaments to make the case to missile launch officers that going to war can be a moral choice. The Christian Post sheds more light on the course’s controversial contents:
A PowerPoint presentation obtained from the course referenced scripture verses such as Hebrews 11 to show that people of faith can and have engaged in war, in a section entitled “War and Faith.” The section also cited biblical figures including Abraham, Samson and David as religious figures that fought wars in a righteous manner…
The course also taught ethical principles such as a “win at all costs will cost you.“ A nuclear ethics section encouraged trainees to consider the deadly power of nuclear weapons and ask such questions as ”Can you imagine a set of circumstances that would warrant a nuclear launch from the U.S. knowing that it would kill thousands of non-combatants?”
The Air Force suspended the class on the same day that a complaint was filed by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation on behalf of 31 instructors and students. The military will now review whether the material should be amended or if the class, itself, should be axed. Fox Nation has more:
…the Military Religious Freedom Foundation said the course violated the Constitutional Separation of Church and State. The organization was created to “directly battle the far-right militant radical evangelical fundamentalists” in the military.
David Smith, the spokesman for the Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command, admits that the Bible verses were an “inappropriate approach” to teaching the material. But, he explains that the course was intended to show missile launch officers that their job is extremely difficult.
Considering the conditions and circumstances under which nuclear decisions are made, the class was supposed to highlight the elevated level of ethics that one must have when conducting missile warfare.
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Comments (159)
notsofast
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:10amCrazy, something crazy just crossed my thoughts.
Ramadan is this month. The senate just took off for the month also.
OB insisted this debt stuff get taken care by the 3rd.
Nay, sorry, just fleeting thoughts.
Actually take a look at what the atheist are doing, they are trying to drive out religion, I know mostly Christians, but why, perhaps they understand clearly that there is about to be an all out, bomb dropping, people killing nuke… clash of civilizations. If they hurry up, maybe they can stop it? Mes thinks not.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:49amI think it’s just time to move somewhere else, but not sure where that place would be.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:19amIf you are suggesting he’s a muslim, he isn’t a very good one, considering the amount of pork we see him injest at every fat sausage joint!
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:33amSacredHonor1776 are you trying to suggest there are good Muslims, history would disagree with you on that point.
Report Post »Audacity of The Infidel
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:26amWilliam J Federer’s book says it best – Backfired: A Nation Born For Religious Tolerance No Longer Tolerates Religion
The faith that gave birth to tolerance is no longer tolerated! * Ten Commandments taken down, “Under God” removed from Pledge, Prayer prohibited, Nativity Scenes banned, Religious Art & Music censored, Salvation Army & Boy Scouts defunded, Christmas carols disallowed… * How did America go from Pilgrims seeking freedom to express their Christian beliefs to today’s discrimination against those very beliefs in the name of tolerance?
Report Post »hechafteth
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:26amBorrowing from the Associationism of the dead liberal comedian Richard Jeni (suicide), one could confer by his method of insane logic that:
1. A Good Muslim follows the koran,
2. A Good Muslim participates in jihad, and therefore –
3. The only Good Muslim is a Dead Muslim.
But then again, it’s only funny when a liberal makes the comparison…
Report Post »SHvnDave
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:36amGold Coin
Report Post »I suggest that you flee to the mountains – do not take time to pack a lunch or grab spare clothes – no time to call your brother – just flee
ying
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:57amFrankly, I’m happy about it. Christians who are looking for answers concerning this WILL find their answers. And, who has the answers? The Vatican, that’s who! What will this eventually amount to? A new Christian Crusade, that’s what!
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 1:39pm@Notsofast Notsofast when you say “Actually take a look at what the atheist are doing, they are trying to drive out religion, I know mostly Christians…, ” Yes, a small ineffectual atheist group that makes headlines are trying to drive out religion… Since you don’t know many atheists personally, 99% of atheists in this country have nothing to do with the groups involved and don’t care to even lift a finger to fight religion or waste their lives on it… and you won’t see them on the news as they are not trying to drive out religion..you won’t hear of them period and that is most…Plenty of nutjob christians in the news too.. most christians are not like the ones depicted here so easy to conclude all christians are nuts… http://onkneesforjesus.blogspot.com/ everyone in news seems nuts but the truth has no agenda.. same holds true for religion.. truth being, religion could all be made up. truth being anyone who claims to KNOW religion is truth is not being truthful.
Report Post »cykoaudio
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:20pmyes,it is attack on Christianity,“freedom FROM religion” foundation?clearly anti-american outfit,simply because our Constitution allows us FREEDOM OF RELIGION.& guy says “its saying Christianity says war is O.K.”.he didn’t even see the course video,because he would have known the Biblical references are meant to act as conscience ENHANCER,i.e the religious overtones would heed you to think TWICE before pressing the button,the Bible would NOT have you launch,the references to the Bible are meant as DETERRENT from war, its only in atheist/communist regimes(Mao/Hitler/Stalin) that killing 10 million innocent ppl w/the push of a button not shake your conscience,because moral relativity is a slippery slope..but as media/libs are wont to do,they show images of Bible,mixed w/talk of nuclear war,and immediately you’re supposed to think “ah ha,see Christians are just waiting to wage war,kill ppl”,as B.Maher said,falsely,“blood thirty”..nice try,thats called transference,where libs claim Christians like violence(Tea Party?),but are only projecting images of throwing Christians(Tea Party/conservatives) to the lions thats coming from their head-libs prove everyday,what they accuse others of doing,is in their heart,like calling Tea Partiers “racist” then go about deriding black conservatives,calling them uncle toms,stuff NO conservative male would get away with,& keeping minorities dependent on gov’t,& talking down to them like they’re dumb,how about freedom from atheists
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:06amQuestioning an ethics course by the military? Do you think the Russians and the Chinese bother to do the same. Perhaps the distractors of this ethics course would want to have “kill all the infidels” included to make it a well rounded presentation.
Report Post »ying
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:59amNatural born soldiers usually find an interest in the military. So, maybe they won’t join it now and decide to fight for something more superior.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:51pm@ENCINOM
Thank you for your service. We disagree on the Just War. Each vet learns a different lesson from war.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:59amPolitics and religion. It sounds like the peaceniks were using it to justify NOT going to war when we need to.
Report Post »R4M0N
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:05amI don’t know where you got that impression. The article mentions how parts of the course taught that going to war is sometimes the right and moral thing to do even if you believe that life is the most precious thing, by using Biblical examples.
Report Post »Seasoldier
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:25amYou can’t teach “Just War Theory” without including the Judeo/Christian foundations for that theory. Just War Theory is the foundation for U. S. military strategy, training and tactics. The people who volunteer to serve in our Armed Forces do so because of the Just War principle of the right to personal and national self-defense. The Law of War is based upon the Just War principles, and our military members are taught to discern the difference between legal and illegal orders based upon Just War principles. That‘s one reason why this course was being taught to Air Force officers who would be in the position of actually firing nuclear weapons based upon the President’s orders.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:36amGiven that Christ taught turn the other cheek, I can not see how any Christian can advocate a just war and still say he is following Christ’s example.
Report Post »thinkinghuman
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:47amAny real Christian who actually READS what Jesus Christ taught will come to the conclusion that WAR was never his solution and he advocated turning the other cheek. 9/11 we lose some 4000 souls. So what do we do? Worse than law of Moses, we go over to Iraq, WHO DIDN’T EVEN DO IT, and we kill a million of them. We also lose 10,000 more soldiers. What did we gain? NOT A THING.
Hiroshima was mass murder. So was Iraq, actually, because those people didn’t do ANYthing to us. That’s a fact. We went over there and started dropping bombs. I am a Christian conservative, but I do NOT go along with all of these unrighteous wars fought for OIL. Bush was a liar.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:57amSeaSoldier is right. The Just War concept is the core of military doctrine and training. It also supports the subordination of the military to civilian control. Without the Just War concept, the US military would be just like Russian and China.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:14am@encinom
The basis of a just war is that there are situations so evil that must be ended. WWII is the major example of a just war. If you believe that there are no situations so evil that war is justified with your belief that Christ would want you to turn the other cheek, you are a conscientious objector. As a CO, you can serve as a chaplain’s assistant or a medic or not serve at all.
Just keep one thing in mind
You sleep peacefully in your bed at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on your behalf.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:17pm@Dismayed Veteran
Actually, I am a vet, served in the army during the first gulf war. I just find it amazing that anybody with two brain cells will call themselves devout christians at the same time they make the Just War argument. These are the same people that can cite to dozens of passages regarding homosexuality, but fail to remeber the ones were Christ himself commented on the peace makers and turning the other cheek.
Report Post »TheChurch
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 1:34pmWow! Once again I can see people taking one verse from the Bible and attempting to use it without respecting all of God’s Word. John Calvin emphasized that a Christian soldier should never use force to gain self-advantage, but “use force out of love for thy neighbor.” Standing by and refusing to act while harm befalls a neighbor is not a virtue; it is a vice. If only the rape rooms and torture chambers were all went to war for it was justified in Iraq. When Christ found the money changers in the temple He did not turn the other cheek. He kicked their butts out with force. In Luke 22:36-38, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure instructed then to buy swords, not to turn the other cheek. And don’t even get me started on Revelations! Understand the Bible before you quote it.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:30pmOf course further on Luke writes:
“49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
In this context, the swords statmenet if anything was a ruse by Christ. As he clearly does not mean for his followers to use them.
Report Post »TheChurch
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:33pmOf course if you read the entire section – agian not just a selcted verse – this is Jesus being turned over for His eventual death on the cross. In short, it had to be that way. Of course we all know the story of David bring down the giant by turning the other cheek. How many soldiers died when Moses closed the Red Sea? The blessed peacemakers who will be called sons of God are not riotous leftists protesting war in San Francisco, but those loving souls who make peace between individuals. Even such peace is not always possible due to man’s inherent evil, otherwise Paul would not write: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” War is only one of the many evils of this world, and if we have learned anything from the 20th century, it is that war is not the worst of them. Of course the final war in Revelations will end all the fuss.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:56amChaplains taught a corse with Bible verses in it? I’m shocked. What did you think when you signed up for it geniuses?
Report Post »BOspreadnwealth
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:55amI’m aware of the bogus arguments of the separation of church and state and if the anit-christian campaign hasnt been as successful as it has there probably wouldnt even be an issue here but with that said I also dont think a soldier needs to be taught by men to justify there actions as a soldier religiously. Jesus died on the cross so that he could send God’s Holy Spirit to speak to each of us and guide each of us individually, including soldiers that might be responsible for carrying out orders to set off and kill millions with a nuclear bomb.
Report Post »thinkinghuman
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:53amOur Constitution grants rights to INDIVIDUALS, not the government or its agents, to promote their religion. I can promote my religion just about anywhere I want, but the government can’t send an agent and come to me and preach any brand of religion. that’s just not right. Nor is it constitutional. 1st Amendment.
Report Post »SHvnDave
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:46amThinking human….
NO, NO, NO! Our rights are not granted by Constitution – they are endowed by God, and the abuse, by government, of those rights are PREVENTED by the Constitution. The difference is significant.
If they were granted by the Constitution, then a simple amendment to the Constitution could remove those rights. Look at the words that implement and protect those rights… “Congress shall pass no law…” etc.
Report Post »American Infantry
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:49amthinkinghuman you could not be more wrong they are not making you belive in God its an ethics class what better book or tool to use than the bible. There is a time and place for war. You can tell what the moral foundation of a country is by how its troops handle themselves on the battlefied. I dont know were you got your info but here is the first amendment ” Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” pretty clear no law was broken b/c Congress did not establish any religion.
Report Post »meetsense
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:07pmYou must not have ‘thought’ enough about this. Our Declaration and Constitution most certainly does not grant people ‘rights’, it carefully confirms that our ‘rights’ come from God and WE then decide a certain mumber of ‘powers’ ANY government entity gets.
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:53amPC politics may have already killed and doomed the United States. YOU MUST FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS TO PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY. IF THEY TAKE THAT, YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING LEFT. THAT IS THE LAST RIGHT THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO STRIP FROM YOU. Try to turn it around. Take their rights. Take their freedoms. Take their finances. Destroy their lives. Put them in prison where they BELONG.
Report Post »GiGi80
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:27am@MIKEE!
“YOU MUST FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS TO PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY.”
Hmmm . . . not sure where you live, but here in Maine we just get in our cars and drive to church on Sunday (or Saturday, for Jews and some Christian sects). Never, ever heard of anyone being prevented form this in any way, at least not in 2011. Could you please identify this “they” to which you refer? If you are going to buy into the conspiracy theory that someone is trying to prevent you from practicing religion, it would be helpful to know exactly who that “someone” is.
Those of you who are so obsessed with some fantasy boogeyman who is oppressing you might benefit from spending some time volunteering or working in a place where people are truly oppressed by poverty and/or politics.
Y’know — someplace where you can not freely attend church, buy whatever you choose at the grocery, get a free public education and vote, regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity.
I am sick of the America-bashers. If you find American and its culture so repugnant, go live someplace else.
Report Post »trv1
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:30amI don‘t think anyone was saying you can’t practice christianity, but uh, yeah you seem a bit crazy…
cloudsofwar
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:51ami thought it was, Fight for your right too Party.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:58pmActually, the Constitution and the Bill Rights don’t speak of Christianity. It “religion”. We have the freedom to practice any or no religion and the government can’t create a state religion. God is identified as the Creator not Christ.
Report Post »JMorcan
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:51amThe only thing more blasphemous than using Christianity to justify war is the practice of praying on the football field. This idea should have been shot down before it even started.
Report Post »JaketheDog
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:09amPraying before a football game is more blasphemous than using religion to justify or start a war? I would rather have praying before or during a game than someone screaming “allahu akbar”. Praying versus jihad is preferable.
Report Post »trv1
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:31amJake that is so far off it is ridiculous, get educated.
Report Post »ohyaok
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:22pmjmorcan:
You sure love to throw that blasphemy charge around don’t you. Someone doesnt agree with you and “Thats Blasphemy”. You must think you are god, small G. You must have forgotten the parable Jesus told of needing to bind the strong man before entering his house to rob him. That is what seems to be happening now with all this political correctness crap happening. Bind the Strong Man which is our Christian heritage. Then we will be easy to topple.
Report Post »Goohuman
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:45amIt would be profoundly immoral to NOT teach ethics.
It is EQUALLY immoral to suggest that religion shouldn’t play a role in ethics training. It is, after all, the primary source of our ethics training.
Report Post »JMorcan
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:12amMany genres of philosophy regarding ethical behavior have nothing to do with religion. It is blasphemous to associate Jesus with war and killing.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:01am“It is blasphemous to associate Jesus with war and killing.”
But the passages referenced were from Hebrews and the OT, not Jesus. The Bible is clearly fine with righteous war. It doesn’t change that the presentation is unnecessary though.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:40amTo me, it seems like this course shouldn’t be needed. Why does a Christian in the military need to be reminded of what the Bible says; if they joined up, they should be right with God in their hearts already. They already are out there killing people; Christianity is fine with unintentional casualties (the Vatican ruled on this ages ago, and most of the pro-war crowd I’ve met have been Protestants). The course isn’t needed, and unless it is to a Christian-only crowd, it should not be included.
Report Post »Ironeagle
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:39amAnd the censorship of the Bible and Christianity continues … I had this course in the AF, its nothing controversial–its just taking historical fact and making a case for just war (which exists). This doesn’t surprise me–the AF has evolved into the nation’s most politically correct branch of service. God bless the Marines–they are the still the least PC of the services.
Report Post »Pastor Ray
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 1:39pmIroneagle
Report Post »And the censorship of the Bible and Christianity continues…And continues and continues and continues…It’s sad…It Really IS…because so many Quote/Unquote Christians are just so Biblically Illiterate! Traditions of MAN is all they know and as Jesus said in Matthew 15:6; “…Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect [VOID] by your tradition.” And playing church…Yes I know GOD says it is sin, BUT…ALL of America is in trouble because America has forgotten the meaning of the word…NO! It is the Burger King mentality “I want it my way!” Forget about GOD’S way!
Shellback
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:36amSocialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
Winston Churchill
What next for this orgainization, get rid of the Chaplains?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:41am@SHELLBACK ~~~ Indeed. Then “church” or “religious services” except for islam. Count on it.
satan is alive and well, kicking and screaming because he is on his death bed and going down for the count.
Our GOD has already won this battle. All we have to do is STAND IN HIS NAME and under HIS BANNER and invite others to come while there is still time.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:46amShellback–most probably. My question for the Patriotic American is can a system that has chosen as its leaders men /women/or ? who have divorced themselves from the founding principles of Religion,Morality ,and Knowledge necessary to good government .The Religion being Christianity ( as noted by Justice Joseph Story in his 1833 Commentaries on the Constitution) And it flows naturally from that that the Morality would spring from and be rested upon our shared Religion) and Knowledge as seems understood when the fundamental law was twice passed by Congress ought be a reflection of the duty man has to obey and honor his Creator -and the duty a man under God has to treat his neighbor as himself. (essentially what our American educators once taught their charges) can a nation whose leaders have divorced themselves from the founding principles still be called the USA?
Report Post »trv1
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:37am@Stonyburk
Religion is not necessary to be moral, or knowledgeable. In fact as you may or may not know it really inhibits both, I have never seen a group hate as much as the people that follow religion. Religion is a joke in general, get out of the bronze age. Our nation was not founded on christianity by the way. No government institution in the US should be teaching religion, simple as that, religion and government do not mix.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:07pm@STONYBURK
You sound more educated that I am. I can’t quote the commentaries you referenced. I do know that GOD is only identified as the CREATOR and there is no mention of CHRIST in the Constitution. I do know that there is freedom of religion or freedom to not practice religion and the government can’t create a state church.
I am practicing Christian.
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:35amAll we get is more crap from people with no morals. It’s time we quit using the lie of seperation of church and state in ways our founding fathers did not intend. How about we enforce seperation of Obama and state.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:28amThanks for the quote, SON_OF_LIBERTY; used it on my show.
Report Post »Son_of_Liberty
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:45amThank you
3%
Report Post »carbonyes
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:28amDespite the fact that many still cling to the “separation of chuch and state”. neither does the first amendment nor Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists, as used to support said contention, indicate that such was the intent of the framers. In fact, such was not their intention, as evidenced by numerous other statements of the founders. All the trumpeters of the separation quote, Congress shall make no law “respecting an establishment of religion”, they ignor the second part of the same sentence “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. As a result the nut cases, mostly on the left have done everything they can to extricate and exterminate every reference to God and Christ, the Christian faith, from every single aspect of our culture and lives. Christianity is not a religion; it is a way of life. We have permitted government, our society and our culture to turn the Constitution on its head. We are now paying the price for it.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:22amI’m a bit torn on this one; morals & ethics are definitely involved in this issue but I’m not sure placing a single religious dogma in the discussion is a good thing – needs to be more holistic & less aligned w/ a single sectarian view.
Report Post »Son_of_Liberty
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:48am@ ron_wa
I agree. Too many people think that the only way to have religious equality is to eliminate religion. All that does is propel the religion of atheism above all others. True religious equality would be to include all religions.
3%
Report Post »Taxpayer550
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:21amThis never turns out well. Whenever man turns his back on God in some way, it always works to man’s detriment. Throughout the history of scripture, God has removed his divine hand of protection and providence when His people turn away from Him. We are currently within the throes of that removal where God allows the Winds Of Strife to come upon humanity.
Report Post »trv1
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:42amGod has never affected us because he is not real. The chistian, jewish, and muslim gods are just as real as Zeus and Poseidon. It is all just bronze age myths developed to control people and explain the things they couldn’t. There are no such things such as miracles or divine intervention. You are a sheep.
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:23amTrv1. Why do you want to pick a fight? I don‘t care if you don’t believe in God.
Report Post »Obama_Sham
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:10pm@TRV1
“God has never affected us because he is not real. The chistian, jewish, and muslim gods are just as real as Zeus and Poseidon. It is all just bronze age myths developed to control people and explain the things they couldn’t. There are no such things such as miracles or divine intervention. You are a sheep.”
And by spouting the Atheist talking points, you are being a sheep as well…
Report Post »Rocky_biskit
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:19amSo let me get this straight … repeal DADT and allow homosexuals to serve openly but lets not allow religious ethics to be introduced into the minds of those who could one day be faced with destroying an entire country or possibly the planet!!!!
Report Post »RationalJames
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:33amThey‘re not only religious ’ethics’, but christian ones, which makes people of other faiths feel excluded.
Report Post »Christian conservatives tend to complain about freedom of religion, but they never seem to value the beliefs of others; if we’re going to have religion integrated into something like this, then it had better pay just as much respect to all other religions.
Now, this is pretty hard to do, isn’t it? The most logical solution would be to remove religious ideologies from government institutions altogether, thereby including everyone of every faith (or lack thereof). Seems like the patriotic thing to do, in my mind.
Hiswill
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:04amHow much do our beliefs differ from one religion to another? The Ten Commandments:
Report Post »1Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Other “gods” can include possessions, power or prominence.)2Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.3Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.4Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.5Honour thy father and thy mother.6Thou shalt not kill.7Thou shalt not commit adultery.8Thou shalt not steal.9Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.10Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbors’.
Why do these words cause so much controversy?
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:04am@rationaljames
Actually, the ethics taught are Judeo-Christian not just Christian.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:14amOh yes, do take any reference to God out, but if a muslim needs to pray, get them a prayer rug and stop everything you are doing. No mention of God or Jesus at our servicemen and women’s funerals.
Report Post »I don’t know if other Americans are getting as angry as I am, but I sure hope so. I hardly recognize the America I love. God bless America, forgive us and restore us to a Nation Under God again.
louise
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:17amGreat post!
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:17amThere they go again saying separation of church and state is in the Constitution. It isn’t and they should know that. How dumb are these people who make decision on incorrect information?????
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:19amIf our government is so against the mention of God, why do government offices close on Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.? They should be in business because it’s just another day. Why do congressmen get to take 2 weeks off for Christmas? Keep it up, and God will allow this country to fail….a shame since our form of government has lasted more than any other on earth.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:19amThe administration has finally won in its transformation of the military; next thing you know, he will begin the placement of Muslum fanatics in charge of the armed forces so when he unleashes them upon the US Citizens, they at the least, will follow his orders with glee.
Report Post »KevStutzCanDo
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:23amAMEN my brother, I‘m not afraid to speak God’s word, it’s healing.
Report Post »GOD BLESS AMERICA.
ItsintheBible
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:24amIn Jesus/Yeshua’s precious name. Amen.
Report Post »hgaut
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:26amI agree. Then if something bad happens the ones who took God out of the equation are the first that’ll say; “if God is so good, whey did He let this happen?” It‘s bad enough that we’re throwing our forefathers of the picture. UGH. I’m getting an ulcer.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:13amUp next, the Air Force and its members will no longer be able to spend U.S. dollars because they have the word God on them. What do you think, will the Military Religious Freedom Foundation hook up with CAIR to fight that?
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:11amWe have the AFA in our city and many of the folks I know up there are believers–uh, in Christ not all that other crap. I will be covering this story on my radio show today; streaming at http://www.1530kcmn.com
Report Post »Son_of_Liberty
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:09am“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” George Washington
3%
Report Post »louise
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:16amSON_OF_LIBERTY
Report Post »just want to thank you for your quotes from the Founding Fathers here (and on a couple of other articles) this morning. Very uplifting!
Ron_WA
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:30amI’m w/ you on the morality & even kinda sorta on the religious morality piece of it but it can’t be based on a single religious dogma – it has to be holistic (as dang near all religious teachings are in step w/ this issue) & not aligned w/ a single religious sect
Report Post »Son_of_Liberty
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:35am@ louise
It is my pleasure!
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Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:42am“Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.”
“It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes.”
Thomas Paine
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Do I sense a coming ‘Battle of Founding Father’s Quotes’?
Stay tuned…
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:58amYeah…I agree that if you are the one in charge of such a decision you need to have not only a right relationship with God but also know that you are caring out an order…The man is talking about his personal life as a public servant. He’s not saying we gotta indoctrinate the troops to believe my way in order to win the war.
Like minded warriors study the bible together, they become the examples for the other warriors to follow. My family has over 100 years of service to the country and we are Christians, and we would not put up a power point presentation and marry the military code of conduct to the Bible.
It’s an order, and if you don’t follow it, you are doomed.
A B52 pilot in the 90′s refused to lock and load the nukes on an exercise…they of course had no ideal it was an exercise and it was treated as the real deal. He was immediately busted and ended up working with me…He is now a congressman in my state. We still have spirited debates and yes he is a Christian too.
Report Post »Son_of_Liberty
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:03am@ mrbutcher
“As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of all government to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith.” Thomas Paine
I’m not looking for a battle of quotes. My only intention is to show people the actual words of our founders, rather than to just rely on what people 200 yrs later wrote about them and their beliefs.
“[My views on Christianity] are the result of a life of inquiry & reflection, and very different from that anti-Christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; & believing he never claimed any other. Thomas Jefferson
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Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:18pmAnd neither am I, Son of Liberty. I share your desire to make it known what the Founders said in their own words (especially concerning religion and Christianity and how it relates to self-government).
Since you mention my favorite founder, Mr. Jefferson, I’ll stick to him for awhile.
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“Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.”
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
“I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshipped by many who think themselves Christians.”
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard Price, Jan. 8, 1789 (Richard Price had written to TJ on Oct. 26. about the harm done by religion and wrote “Would not Society be better without Such religions? Is Atheism less pernicious than Demonism?”)
“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.”
-Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, Dec. 6, 1813.
“Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.”
Report Post »-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814
Son_of_Liberty
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 2:33pm@ mrbutcher
“But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” Thomas Jefferson
3%
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:56pmThat was an easy one. Everyone knows that one.
How ’bout this one:
“If we did a good act merely from love of God and a belief that it is pleasing to Him, whence arises the morality of the Atheist? …Their virtue, then, must have had some other foundation than the love of God. ”
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Law, June 13, 1814
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Cheers to TJ!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:09amAs a Christian, I agree that is the wrong approach. It should not be used to justify a Government policy or a procedure.
It comes down to obeying the command of the President when nukes are sent out.
Report Post »JohnBirch
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:08amDo your part to fight intolerance….say a prayer out loud at all your resturant meals.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:21amWe do that, as we (all four of us) hold hands around the table. But we’re in Garland, TX, a fairly conservative place….now, Dallas, on the other hand… We need more conservatives to move to Dallas.
Report Post »louise
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:06amIf there was any institution that needed biblical insight and guidance, I would think it s the military when they consider going to war.
Report Post »I believe there is such a thing as “Just War”.
I also believe there is such a thing as “Unconstitutional War”
HKS
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:05amAnd who is behind this Military Religious Freedom Foundation, I would suspect it’s someone you know and hate.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:37am@HKS~~~ Here you go!
When one proudly dons a U.S. Military uniform, there is only one religious symbol: the American flag. There is only one religious scripture: the American Constitution. Finally, there is only one religious faith: American patriotism. ~ Mikey Weinstein
Welcome to our website!
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are guaranteed by the First Amendment.
That’s the first part…… Here’s some more:
Report Post »http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/about/partnering-links/