Onward Christian Soldiers?

[Taichiliberal]

As if the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan isn't hair trigger enough, those little evangelical christians have been busy little devils trying to "spread the word". Problem is, they're trying to do it via the military, which is a no-no supposedly.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/202734/page/1

This issue has come up before, with Operation Straight Up, a christian evangelical group that was approved by a Pentagon office which was caught doing similar shennanigans

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-aslan22aug22,0,4674900.story

Well, it's another item that should be on Obama's Top 40 to-do list, because last time I checked the Arabs & muslims were kind of touchy about christians and military on their home turf.

 

[uscitizen]

Christianity and Islam both want to rule the world.
I think there are a couple of benevolent religions out there.

 

[Taichiliberal]

Christianity and Islam both want to rule the world.
I think there are a couple of benevolent religions out there.

True, and they're the ones usually getting the short end of the stick from the forementioned groups. Personally, I've contemplated becoming a Buddhist monk and study at the Shaolin Temple....but then I'd have to contend with those pesky Communist in the Chinese gov't. Oh well, one day at a time!

 

[uscitizen]

I think all wanna be christians should have to spend at least 6 months non stop at a monastary before they are certified Christians.
Even the christian monastaries are different than mainstream American christianity.
There is one here in KY I visit from time to time I have a couple of friends in there.

 

[Damocles]

Last time we burned the bibles, is this new or old?

Yeah, 2007...

We burned the bibles they sent for soldiers to give away.

 

[Taichiliberal]

Last time we burned the bibles, is this new or old?

Yeah, 2007...

We burned the bibles they sent for soldiers to give away.

The military burned them? I don't recall reading that...but if it's true, that's a waste. They should have been recycled. In any event, the President needs to make a definitive statement on this....let's hope he does.

 

[Damocles]

The military burned them? I don't recall reading that...but if it's true, that's a waste. They should have been recycled. In any event, the President needs to make a definitive statement on this....let's hope he does.

Yes, the military leadership in the Afghanistan believed that they could cause irreparable harm to the mission (they were right), they were burned.

Here is a link of somebody complaining about it.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/bibles_burned_in_afghanistan_20090521/

If you watch the video, it is clear that proselytizing is against direct orders.

 

[Taichiliberal]

I think all wanna be christians should have to spend at least 6 months non stop at a monastary before they are certified Christians.
Even the christian monastaries are different than mainstream American christianity.
There is one here in KY I visit from time to time I have a couple of friends in there.

Having gone through the Catholic school system from grade school through high school...I've pretty much had my fill of Catholicism (and I had a healthy exposure to Protestantism as well as an adult).

Here's my thing: I don't give a damn about peoples religion so long as it doesn't advocate killing or oppressing me. If you come up to me and offer the teachings of your faith and I say, "no thanks", you walk away, no harm or foul. Unfortunately, that is not the way of the world for some. That's why I hope Obama makes a public definitive statement on this issue.

 

[Taichiliberal]

Yes, the military leadership in the Afghanistan believed that they could cause irreparable harm to the mission, they were burned.

Here is a link of somebody complaining about it.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/bibles_burned_in_afghanistan_20090521/

Well, since neither Christians nor Jews have an automatic death-to-infidels clause in their dogma, I don't see what the big deal is...unless the people that sent them are calling for reimbursement. The whole situation was illegal under military law, and caused serious problems. Destroying the books sent a clear message to all connected...Knock it off! Now as I said, they should have recycled the books (or at least sent them back), but the military does have a history of being a bit heavy handed. But the action most likely did send a message to the locals that the military was not tolerating anything remotely related to crusades. So the evangelist will just have to sit and stew....somehow I don't think it will interfere with them getting their morning coffee and paper.

 

[Damocles]

Well, since neither Christians nor Jews have an automatic death-to-infidels clause in their dogma, I don't see what the big deal is...unless the people that sent them are calling for reimbursement. The whole situation was illegal under military law, and caused serious problems. Destroying the books sent a clear message to all connected...Knock it off! Now as I said, they should have recycled the books (or at least sent them back), but the military does have a history of being a bit heavy handed. But the action most likely did send a message to the locals that the military was not tolerating anything remotely related to crusades. So the evangelist will just have to sit and stew....somehow I don't think it will interfere with them getting their morning coffee and paper.

Pretty much. Plus Chaplains need to be a bit more aware of the mission. I know they aren't line officers, but they are there to serve soldiers, it is wrong to break your agreement and start following different orders given by somebody like a Chaplain...