Faith

Are Military Atheists Planning to Target Commanders’ Pre-Combat Prayer?

Military Atheist Leader Complains About Pre Combat Prayer

Jason Torpy, President of Military Atheists and Freethinkers (CNS News & MAAF)

Jason Torpy is becoming a familiar name in The Blaze’s faith coverage. Torpy, the president of the Military Atheists and Free Thinkers Association, is an outspoken advocate against the prominence of faith and religion in the military.

Recently, we reported about his championing of efforts to install atheist chaplains and his firm stance against a cross that commemorates lost soldiers at Camp Pendleton in California. Now, Torpy may have his targets set on yet another faith issue — military prayer.

In an interview with National Public Radio, Torpy voiced his opinion that it is inappropriate for military personnel to pray with fellow soldiers before going out on missions. The atheist leader discussed an incident he personally experienced in 2003 or 2004 when, as CNS News reports, he claims a commander gathered his team together to pray before a mission. At the time, he was deployed in Iraq, serving in the Army’s 1st Armored Division.

Listen to Torpy discuss his take on atheist chaplains and military prayer, below:

Below, find a portion of the transcript of Torpy’s interview with NPR (via CNS News):

NPR: Can you give some examples of where as an atheist, as a humanist, you felt left out?

TORPY: Going on a military mission, for example, we were getting ready to roll out. And ‘Everybody come in.’ So as the commander of this convoy (said), ‘Everybody come in and we’re going to do a prayer first together.’ We’re not going to talk about communications, we’re not going to talk about route planning, we’re not going to talk about first aid, we’re not going to talk about maintenance.

TOPRY: So I had to opt myself out of that situation, to ‘out’ myself because this commander took it upon himself to have a personal religious activity in the midst of a military mission.

NPR: You didn’t participate?

TOPRY: No.

NPR: How did you walk away from that?

TORPY: Well, as a captain, there’s a lot fewer people that can tell me what to do. Now the person that was in command was a major so I was still stepping outside – he was extremely unhappy about it. He said. “Why are you creating trouble?” And I said, “Why are you creating trouble? Why are you excluding me from this activity? This is a military mission, and I support your right to pray, but right this second we have a military mission, and for to use your power to pull everyone in to do a Christian prayer is wrong.”

Military Atheist Leader Complains About Pre Combat Prayer

In a follow-up interview with CNSNews.com, Torpy did admit that the mission was prepared for before the prayer took place. His previous comments made it seem as though preparation fell secondary to prayer and that his commander was more interested in speaking to the Almighty than he was planning routes, first aid and other elements.

Despite this admission, he contended that prayer “threw everything off” and that it was a distraction. “It was a critical time that could have better spent focused on other areas,” he explained. Torpy felt like he was being forced into Christian prayer. He continued, saying that the incident made it difficult for him, as a non-believer, to be a part of the team.

Torpy believes that the First Amendment prevents officers from imposing their religious views on their compatriots. CNS has more:

“The First Amendment has two clauses that balance each other out. The Establishment ensures that the government–and officials acting on behalf of the government, like military officers–don’t let their personal religious beliefs interfere with their authority with the government; they don’t use the power of the government to privilege or prioritize, or to force their religion on others.

But the free exercise clause makes it clear that individuals acting privately – even if they are acting privately in a public space – have the opportunity to be true to their conscience and do religious practices according to their wishes.”

Considering these words, one wonders if pre-combat military prayer is Torpy’s next target. Already, he and his atheist compatriots have had success in fighting against other faith elements in the military. It will be interesting to see if these words are mere complaints or if they will be accompanied by action on behalf of Torpy and his Military Atheists and Freethinkers Association.

(H/T: CNS News)

Comments (125)

1 2 3
  • texasfarmer
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:06am

    If you don’t want to pray then go take a leak.

    Report Post » texasfarmer  
    • Nepenthe
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:14am

      Unless you have rank, when the commander says to gather around, you are not going anywhere.

      Report Post » Nepenthe  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:22am

      Americanism is no different then islam when it comes to invoking God before murdering your enemy.

       
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:55am

      Rose-Ellen
      Killing in war is not murder. The difference is that of an ant and a whale, and yet you can’t see it! Glasses won’t help…. I will pray for you, even if you walk away………Dear Father, Rose Ellen does not see you standing in the crowd, please wave to her, speak to her heart… and then she will know that you are God, in Jesus name .. Amen…. (I ain’t playin, this is no joke)

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:25am

      Murder is whatever we say it is. To apacifist killing people in war is murder. So to -ffor an Amish or other christian sect. In any case americans are killing and torturing people .One million men women and children have had theiur arms and legs blown off or died due to our invasions and occupations[in orfder to topple one man in iraq and in order to punish the taliban because they allowed alquada to train in afghanistan. To me -we’re guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity -these invasions and wars are immoral and illegal an. Yet while in syria every day that dictator is murdering civilians and torturing them-we are concerned that if his regime topples-it will be bad for israel. So much for our obligation to protect civilians and our concern for innocent human life. We’re hypocrites and our aganda is murder towards any one whose interests we believe might collide with ours. Nothing ethical there.War is terrorism with a bigger budget.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:02am

      God will be the judge of what is and is not. My general point stands in reply to you’re first post. We probably agree on some of the other issues, but I have no desire to debate them.

      Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:26am

      I see the Smelling Rose is back with her Anti-American and anti-Christian views. Just think Ellen another day will come and you can spend that whole day protesting something you don‘t believe doesn’t exist. Sounds like your false beliefs are tormenting you. Have a nice day.

      Report Post » db321  
    • bolec slodkie
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:31am

      Rose-Ellen
      The problem with not having a god is that you can define your own, or others sin. With the God of the bible there is a difference between killing in war and murder. This is the same “logic” you use when you don’t believe we are at war with Al-Qaeda. We didn’t declare war on them, Al-Qaeda declared war on us on 9/11.

      Report Post »  
    • Continental Patriot
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:45am

      After a while of reading a few posts I’ve come to the conclusion that Rose-Ellen is a waste of human liberal space and really belongs in Cuba or North Korea with the rest of her kind. Seriously. If hatred of America, capitalism, and Catholicism permeates the mind that badly she (if she is even a she) should seriously consider leaving the place that she finds so revolting. We as real Americans have no use for her socialist kind.

      Report Post » Continental Patriot  
    • elfman
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:53am

      :rose-ellen
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:25am
      Murder is whatever we say it is. ”

      No it is not. Words have meaning. Otherwise I could redefine yours to mean that you support genocide.

      Murder is defined as “The unlawful killing of one human by another”. The US recognizes no laws that it broke in killing people in the WOT, with rare exceptions. Next to no-one but terrorist sympathizers, anti-capitalists, their useful idiots and the 2% mentally ill social outcasts claim otherwise.

      Report Post » elfman  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:05pm

      The ol’ Trojan Horse.

      Report Post »  
    • DogTags
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:11pm

      Why is he making his religion a public matter? I thought he wants religious expression to be a private matter. He should follow his own tenet and shut up.

      Report Post »  
    • USAMEDIC3008
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:14pm

      Medic Desmond T Doss
      Received the C.M.H in WWII
      You all should search his story..
      I will say no more ,ok one more thing

      MERRY CHRISTMAS…

      Report Post » USAMEDIC3008  
    • elfman
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:18pm

      Nepenthe Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:14am
      “Unless you have rank, when the commander says to gather around, you are not going anywhere.”

      Oh the horror! Having to kneel for a minute before a mission while your commander promotes confidence unity within your team with words from a religion you don’t believe in! Poor baby…

      I was an agnostic in the USMC in the 80s and was bothered a little with public prayer, but recognized that it was important to many around me. That outweighed the tiny slight to me * 1000. I’m now an Objectivist (atheist) and survived the “trauma”.

      A commander who’s seriously troubled by a little prayer is probably not looking out for his men to the best of his abilities and should not be in the military.

      Report Post » elfman  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:30pm

      Rose Ellen is to stupid to shoot & scoot. She’ll be her for a long time under 1 post name or another.

      No religious doctrine tells you to not defend yourself. If some sect says that it does they are misinterpreting it.

      Report Post »  
    • Shupp
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:32pm

      Best response to this is to have the C.O. make it clearly stated, “Guys, listen up. I would like to pray real quick before the battle. I would welcome and appreciate everyone to join me. However if you feel uncomfortable then by all means do a gear check or relieve yourself on the nearest building. Heads up I will be saying a xtian prayer. If others of diff beliefs want after my own here they may recite their prayer outloud or to themselves whilest I recite mine…………(prayer pee happy time) …aight boys n girls..lets rock n roll. Stay sharp n safe.”

      Report Post »  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:58pm

      @ TexasFarmer

      Exactly. The Commander (a Major) probably shouldn’t have confronted him about it, but in the military, it‘s seen as a bit of an affront to the Commander if a lower ranking officer doesn’t follow suit.

      The Commander was wrong in confronting him, but does this rise to the level of a violation of the 1st Amendment? 15 years ago I’d have said no, but there’s definitely an anti-Christian (at best), Atheistic (at worst) streak travelling through the government these days. The real shame of it is that by taking away soldiers’ right to band together to pray before missions, you’re taking away their “free practice thereof.”

      The policy here should be as most Chaplains would say “I invite you to pray in your Faith, as I pray in mine…” & continue on. Then, if the “free thinker” doesn’t pray, don’t confront him about it.

      BTW, I consider Atheists more closed-minded than any other group. To be a “free thinker,” one must at least acknowledge a possibility of the existence of a god, if not Yahweh Himself. Deists & Agnostics are free thinkers. Atheists aren’t.

      This also goes for Christians who refuse to acknowledge the possibility of no God.

      Me, I acknowledge an infinitesimal possibility that there may be no God but if that’s true, Oh well- I will have lived a good life. Until I find out for certain, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, that He would have still done it if the sins were only mine, & b/c that, I will re

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • txn4justice
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:29pm

      Nothing wrong with praying before combat or convoy (same thing sometimes). Torpy is a punk trying to make a name for himself.

      Report Post »  
    • uzeguize
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:14am

      Maybe, I am just too simple. But where is his problem? If the commander told him to contribute, had to say Amen or lead a Christian or any other religion’s prayer he would be justified. Is he not part of a unit? Many members believe that they are providing sacrifice to God and Country. I guess he just couldn’t keep quiet andlet his brothers in arms have their beliefs acknowledged too. If you don‘t want to pray don’t, but don’t mess with believers rights to assemble when they may be required to sacrifice their mortal to save your terminate human are. If it were me there would be a Captain that may catch a stray bullet. I don’t want to be with him. Not because he doesn’t profess belief, but it his inordinate and dangerous obsession with hishonor being insulted and to hell with my honor. He would have selected his own level of separation. What a piece of human excrement this Cp’n is.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:22am

      @rose-ellen
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:25am
      Murder is whatever we say it is. To apacifist killing people in war is murder. So to -ffor an Amish or other christian sect. In any case americans are killing and torturing people .One million men women and children have had theiur arms and legs blown off or died due to our invasions and occupations[in orfder to topple one man in iraq and in order to punish the taliban because they allowed alquada to train in afghanistan.
      ****
      And overwhelmingly these explosiona are by muslims setting off IED’S OR CAR BOMBS, WITH A FEW SUICIDE VESTS THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE!

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • THE COMING
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:03am

    What amazes me is the fact that while atheist hate anything to do with God, they stand shoulder to shoulder with Muslims. This proves an unholy alliance is forming as evil begets evil.

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:14am

      You are now seeing the left take over the one last vestige of American pride, our military… When that is complete, you will see the end ! Academia, all levels of govt, hollywood, the judiciary, all gone to the leftys…. Now the military, that scares me!!!

      Report Post »  
    • fidelcashflo44
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:55am

      That would be amazing if you weren’t a complete imbecile, much like Billy Hallowell the resident Christian warrior reporter who is a complete hack of a journalist.

      Atheism is the stance that no deity exists, as presented by any religion. Including the disgusting, antiquated practices of Islam.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:11am

      I think you will find that this unholy alliance is in part made with “false christians” and at the least very foolish ones!

      Report Post »  
    • txn4justice
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:30pm

      You make a great point.

      Report Post »  
  • binge_thinker
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:41am

    It‘s amazing that for an atheist group to get so apoplectic over the cross or a prayer representing a God they say they don’t believe in, when in reality they just don‘t want to be reminded there IS a God and if he’s being represented by the cross or prayer their guilty conscience gets the better of them every time.
    Prayer doesn’t force anyone’s conscience into accepting any religion, and in itself it can’t produce religious persecutions. But American atheists and “freethinkers” can’t think rationally. They have a superstitious and highly irrational fear of anything that resembles a Christian symbol or Christian prayer.

    Report Post » binge_thinker  
  • KusoJiJi
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:24am

    I’m not religious at all but do acknowledge peoples right to pray anytime, anywhere without restriction. It neither offends me nor does it threatened me in anyway. I fail to see this guy’s point. I do see the guy attempting to impose his will on others and not the other way around.

    Report Post » KusoJiJi  
    • HKS
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:37am

      Misery loves company, these guys go through life with out a prayer, that would be a lonely feeling.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • goatrope67
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:50am

      I’m an Atheist in the military and I see these prayers at nearly every major event from graduation ceremonies to unit dinners. Most often I feel uncomfortable when 200 or more people in a room start bowing their heads to pray, but I never feel so uncomfortable that I feel like I must join them. And at no time have I ever had anyone complain because I didn’t pray. The difference I think is that this guy left the room. He left his unit while they prayed. He could have just “manned up” and stuck around and not prayed. He wasn’t being forced to pray. What his commander was saying was more about unit cohesion than why he didn’t pray like everyone else. While I agree that we as Atheists have just as much right to stand up for what offends us as anyone else does I also believe that we have to understand that we are a minority. We can’t get everything we ask for. And we can’t expect everyone to come to our way of thinking when we take small, pitiful bites and the underside of the shark. It’s better to be an Atheist that can stand in a room full of people than be an Atheist that has to stand outside like the smokers on their 15 minutes smoke breaks.

      Report Post »  
    • Nepenthe
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:06am

      Pretty much nothing the commander says is a ‘suggestion’ rather everything is an order. The commander should not be ordering everyone to gather around and pray. The only reason this guy was allowed to exit was because of his rank; any regular Joe who tried to ditch would be immediately hounded by everyone person above them.

      Report Post » Nepenthe  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:16am

      Yo Goatrope67:
      As a follower of christ I thank you for your service, and appreciate your position of logic concerning this issue. If I was around a group of atheists and they wanted to do some sort of pre battle gathering, I don’t walk away from the rest of the men, I remove myself in my heart and at the same time pray to my God to help ALL of us. I hope that you have not closed the door to Jesus.

      Report Post »  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:55am

      Kusojiji: Thank you for being an adult about this, this isn’t about prayer in public or the military. This is about attention, power and false accusation to further an agenda. There’s not one military leader that is going to stop holding a prayer before heading out on patrol regardless of any mandate handed down by the brass.

      “So as the commander of this convoy (said), ‘Everybody come in and we’re going to do a prayer first together.’ We’re not going to talk about communications, we’re not going to talk about route planning, we’re not going to talk about first aid, we’re not going to talk about maintenance.”

      This is such bull. The premise that he’s been compromised because of a prayer rather than preparation is just a lie. Everyone knows troops are briefed prior to each operation and any concerns are addressed. A prayer prior to a patrol or mission is usually held just before the platoon heads out, all the prep work has been done.

      I hate when people lie to further their agenda.

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • txn4justice
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:32pm

      Agreed

      Report Post »  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:19am

    “Recently, we reported about his championing of efforts to install atheist chaplains”
    ———————————————————————-
    Tell me that atheism isn’t a religion when they have “chaplains.”

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • momrules
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:18am

    Since Obama took office the sworn enemies of God and freedom have become more vocal and more powerful. Our military, our country, Christians and morality are under spiritual attack and this administration is leading the charge.

    I would not doubt that field commanders will receive orders to stop prayers before combat. The atheists right to not be offended trumps the rights of believers to pray……….again.

    Report Post »  
  • atombomb
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:17am

    Can a member of the editorial staff for The blaze please clue me in as to why the blaze has a fixation with atheists?

    Report Post » atombomb  
    • dupaws
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:40am

      Maybe it is because atheists are always dtivking their nose in other people affares.

      Report Post » dupaws  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:33am

      If you look more carefully I think you will see that the Blaze is exposing to light extremism in general.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • stickandtwig.com
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:12am

    This story is yet another example of how the U.S. Government actively and openly violates our Constitutionally protected rights. The right to worship as we see fit is one of the fundamental Natural Rights of Nature and is protected by the 1st Amendment:

    “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;

    The first Amendment guarantees freedom of worship, not freedom from, and it restricts Congress from prohibiting the free exercise of that worship in any way – even by extension of rule or regulation under another govt. body constructed as the result of Congressional action. In this case, that means the military cannot outlaw the free exercise and expression of faith because it falls under the jurisdictional control of Congress, as laid out in the Constitution.

    Furthermore, now that the Supreme Court has ruled and the military is recognizing atheism as a religion, to place sanctions against Christians or people of any other faith is a clear preference of one faith over another by the government, which is a violation of U.S. law under the Constitution, of Natural Law and of our individual Natural Rights. It is not that the govt. should act to force atheists to accept the practices of those who believe in a Creator, but that the govt. should take no action against people of either belief. The rule of law must be applied equally and fairly, or it is no

    Report Post » stickandtwig.com  
  • FIVEHOLEJAMO
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:12am

    The part of his comments where he stated that he felt he was“outed”. is very telling. Igarner from that statement that he is ashamed of his views and doesn’t want anyone to know his heart. II am a true believer of whatever it may be , Iwould relish the opportunity to stand for my convictions. This man is clearly a fake and has no place defending this Christian nation. May God find accurate aim for the enemy to find it’s mark on this abomination.

    Report Post » FIVEHOLEJAMO  
    • atombomb
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:24am

      Did you just pray for God to kill an American Soldier? Wtf

      Report Post » atombomb  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:11am

    A little “friendly-fire” would have solved this situation. Idiot would have been beaten or discharged under George Washington. Get these God-haters out of the military. They only hurt the mission. They have no core, no morale. I’ve served with these punks. And he was a Captain, a freaking lowly nobody officer who sends us enlisted guys to do the real work. I hope God shows him how incredibly stupid he is before he dies, lest he be cast into the place of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • Curious Visitor
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:13pm

      What religion are you? You seem to have a very strange understanding of God if you think he would want his followers to gun down people who don’t believe in him.

      Also, why the bitterness towards the officer? You don’t like this guy just because he studied hard in school and went to an academy instead of enlisting? Sounds like class warfare to me. Are you involved with Occupy Wall Street?

      Report Post »  
  • StonyBurk
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:00am

    Torpy,Weinstein-and their kine are prime examples of the old principle one generally gets more of the
    behavior encouraged. When the Military decided to promote Diversity over unity. When it decided it
    needed to provide a “home” for “all” religious beliefs-or unbelief. They simply encourage disunity and
    anarchy .Torpy is just the US Army-(former military) version of the butt boil trying to do the same to
    to the USAFA what the leadership ignores is what is a better environment for these schmoes is not
    a better environment for the majority who only wish to serve. Torpy quit because he was unfit. end of story.

    Report Post »  
  • Athinkerinaseaoflibs
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:52am

    I would like to bring a level of civility to all discussions but in this case all that can be said is;
    1. What a moron
    2. When are we going to stop sending/wasting federal money to NPR & PBS
    3. What an Idiot
    4. How can the interviewer not burst out laughing at this Moron
    5. What an Imbecile

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:49am

    .
    I think he is lying. Cause in that moment of silence you find yourself in when all Hell breaks loose around you. That guy can‘t tell me that God and Mama don’t cross your mind……….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • dcshadows
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:45am

    I have never understood why you would want to ban something that you don’t believe is real or really works. The understanding is that you let fairy tale tellers believe in their fairy tales and know that they aren’t living in your reality. Unless of course it is real and you can’t come to grips with that reality.

    Just a random thought.

    Report Post »  
  • M24
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:41am

    Well Mr. Torpy Strage You Dont Look Like A Soldier ,You Look More Like A Trouble maker. Perhaps Your DI Didnt Make It Clear To You That They Will Tell You What And When To Think Thats All You Need To Know, Free Thinker My Azs Thier Aint Nothing Free Tampon Lipps

    Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:49am

      “our DI Didnt Make It Clear To You That They Will Tell You What And When To Think”

      So this is the environment in which religious practice should flourish?

      Report Post »  
  • Continental Patriot
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:39am

    So basically they intend on disallowing fellow Catholic soldiers from receiving their last rites and having their sins forgiven before they go into battle?

    Isn’t that nice. Looks like the valued notion that every member of the armed forces are brothers to one another has been destroyed. Thanks Obama.

    Report Post » Continental Patriot  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:51am

      Did you read the article? That was not the situation. No one was receiving last rites or absolution. Stop making things up.

      Report Post »  
    • Continental Patriot
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:19am

      And you need to look at the bigger picture. Pre-battle prayer by commanders and chaplains both encompass the same motives for these atheists, in that they want it all abolished or minimized at the very least. My first post meant to include the two things he and other atheists want gone, pre-battle prayers AND the blessings from chaplains.

      If Torpy hates Catholics and God, he should keep his thoughts to himself and respect his fellow military brothers and simply close his ears. Nobody is making anything up, and the article was read. Before you lay out an accusation like that you should really try to understand the meaning behind the comment which my previous post was trying to do. Militant atheists like Torpy attack Catholicism repeatedly because they want it ALL gone. My other post suggested another part that would be included should he and other atheists get their way in having Catholic rights removed.

      Report Post » Continental Patriot  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:29am

      The prist blessing the troops as they go into battle to murder men women and children. No different then a muslim praying Allah acbar[God is great] when in battle for what he believes in.Hypocrites!

      Report Post »  
    • Continental Patriot
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:55am

      Rose-Ellen
      You’re just another typical liberal that cannot stand the idea of brave men and women who fight for this country, its people, and their rights to express their feelings. Even to shoot their mouths off like you do. You are blinded by your hate because there is a very clear and distinct difference between American soldiers and Islamic fundamentalist barbarians killing in the name of religious belief. Here, I‘ll spell it out for you even though I’m undoubtedly wasting my time.

      American soldiers who ask for, and receive, the blessings of God before they head off to battle for their country and your right to shoot your mouth off are asking for God’s protection and blessing so that they may survive the fight and return home to their families one day. And should they perish, they are afforded the right to meet Him in heaven. They are NOT killing in his name.

      Islamic jihadists invoke the name of Allah so that they may have his blessing in ruthlessly murdering non-believers, who they kill in honor of. It’s what the Koran commands of them…convert the infidels or kill them. Men, women, and children all. The clear difference is that American soldiers are not killing in the name of God; they are battling for the safety of this nation, the safety of their families, and your right to shoot your mouth off. And they ask God to keep them safe.

      You’re language in referring to American soldiers as babykillers harkens back to the old days of Vietnam. You were wrong, a

      Report Post » Continental Patriot  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:56am

      Rose, Which type of socialist are you? National, marxist, militant theocrat, or are you just a useful idiot? Drop your mask of defending or representing Islam.

      Report Post »  
  • robmacias
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:38am

    I’ve seen this kind of garbage first hand in the military. He uses his rank to push his personal agenda and when he is out ranked he makes a scene. Atheist talk about respect for others, then why can’t they respect those of us that want to make peace with our God before we go outside the wire? Atheism is a way for people to obsolve themselves of responsibility and accountibility that many practicing faiths require. That reflection of what type of individual you are is exactly why they hate so much. Leave people their traditions. If you are athiest, then you should respect others wishes in this matter especially. It may be the last thing they ever get to do beside die for you.

    Report Post »  
  • cassandra
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:35am

    I’m sooooo sick of these people (atheists) if you just want to stand alone in danger go ahead walk away make my day but stop trying to take away a persons right to pray for strength and protection at a time you need it most, when your leader prays for guidence from our Lord THAT is the man I want to follow like George Washington did, not from someone who believes in NOTHING but himself !!!!

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    • DagneyT
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:40am

      Does it seem that since zero took office, all of these kooks & whack jobs are coming out of the wood work! It‘s like he’s somehow empowered extremes of all kinds.

      Report Post » DagneyT  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:53am

      “Does it seem that since zero took office, all of these kooks & whack jobs are coming out of the wood work! It‘s like he’s somehow empowered extremes of all kinds.”

      It only seems that way because you get all your news from The Blaze–they push a very specific agenda here.

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    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:02am

      Yo Pencilman:
      Half true……this anti-christ stuff has without doubt increased not only in America, but around the world. Part of that can be seen in the “other” sites that push a specific agenda also. And yes, I firmly believe that Obama is a source of this,. and this would be for a number of reasons; not just my “personal” opinion.

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    • Mil Mom
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:19am

      @DagneyT
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:40am
      Does it seem that since zero took office, all of these kooks & whack jobs are coming out of the wood work! It‘s like he’s somehow empowered extremes of all kinds
      ****
      The Scriptures say, “The wicked walk on every side WHEN the vilest men are exalted! “ ”Kind of like saying you can tell a tree by it’s fruit!”

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • Moozmom
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:33am

    Dear God: Please take it easy with Mr.Torpy. I realize he does not believe in your existence, but the guy is drinking way too much caffiene and believes religious people will make him pray. He is very uncomfortable with this. While I know you will never truly leave him, even though he doesn’t believe you are there, please provide him the ability to live his own life and allow others to live theirs. Thank you, God. Amen

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  • SecularConservative
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:25am

    If someone in the service doesn‘t want to pray then they don’t have to, simple as that. I was never forced to pray in the Army. The U.S. Army has a greater proportion of non-believers than civilian counter-parts and if they don‘t want to pray they just don’t. I remember looking around the companies or battalions while the chaplains prayed and I’d probably say that about a quarter of the soldiers just stayed silent without closing their eyes or bowing their heads. There was no pressure to pray.

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  • American_Alliance_for_the_Support_of_Sarcasm
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:23am

    There are no atheists in a foxhole.

    Keep your anti-religion to yourself. You dont have to participate but who do you look toward when you have bullets flying past you and explosions around you and a hoard of people trying to kill you?

    You call yourself a “Free-Thinker”, you arent. You are an arrogant wretch that is trying to force others to believe in your religion.

    If you want to live as a faithless arrogant wretch, then do so but leave the rest of us alone about it.

    Report Post » American_Alliance_for_the_Support_of_Sarcasm  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:22am

    If you don’t want to pray, don’t. The Constitution guarantees the right to pray if you want to, it doesn’t guarantee your right to stop others from praying.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Sorocialism
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:21am

    I think it is insensitive for them to try to force their Athiestic views on them poor christians…The athiest knows that it is a major part of the christian faith to pray for the “non-believer” yet they insist on forcing them christians to exclude them.

    It is insensitive and needs to stop. Even if he was ordered into the same room as them christians this guy didnt have to pray with them, when they all bow thier heads and close their eyes nobody is forcing him to recite a prayer in his head like they are…

    Leave the christians alone…let them worship.

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    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:27am

      It time to plant our feet firmly on the ground and stand up for Christ like he stood up for us. If Atheist don‘t want to pray don’t or better yet do even show up. We as Christian are in a battle as we are the main target for atheist. Turning the other cheek only allows both side of your face to be hit.mTime to take out the trash.

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    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:38am

      Yo Smith:
      Tough talk… hear alot of it comming from “christians”. How many times did Jesus turn HIS cheek. Scripture says that He was beaten beyond human recognition. He let a man nail His right arm to a cross and then He allowed another to nail His left arm to a cross, and the whole time He could have wiped out the human race. HE TURNED HIS CHEEK FOR YOU… othewise you’d be in the trash pile with the rest of us. Jesus “stood” up for you by dying, His death destroyed the power of hell….what are you talkin about….do you know?

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  • NewLife56
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:15am

    Amazing isn’t it? So lets see, those who wish to pray, I guess don’t have any rights.

    Report Post » NewLife56  
  • paulusmaximus
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 7:12am

    I don’t ever remember being “force”to be part of any public prayer while in the army! I do remember being on my knees while all hell broke loose around my and there was nothing I could do but duck and pray!!

    Report Post » paulusmaximus  
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