-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
The U.S. Army is using the mandatory Soldier Fitness Tracker to measure the “spiritual” fitness of soldiers as part of the $125 million Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) program. Soldiers are required to answer if they pray, if they attend religious services, and if they find comfort in religious beliefs. Non-believers are guaranteed to score poorly.
While homosexuals can serve openly since the repeal of DADT, atheists are spiritually unfit.
For those that don’t measure up, there is a “recommendation” for remedial spirituality training.
Here are the pertinent questions:
The Army enlisted “Psychology of Religion” expert Dr. Kenneth Pargament of Bowling Green State University along with Army Chaplains to develop the spiritual portion of the test. Pargament’s area of research involves drawing on religious beliefs and practices to understand and deal with the stresses of life.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) have sent cease and desist letters to Secretary of the Army, John McHugh and General Casey, the Army’s chief of staff.
If the Army is truly interest in the psychological well being of the troops, how about teaching them reasoning and critical thinking skills? Those skills will help them recognize nonsense.
H/T: Rock Beyond Belief, truthout, FFRF, MRFF.
A little internet research turned up a list of members of the Westboro Baptist “Church.” There is only one Chris on the minuscule membership list of this family cult. That may be our “WestboroMan” troll.
http://www.networksplus.net/woodrobin/location.txt
The St Louis Post Dispatch has a big article on the military chaplain situation and how disproportionate its various members are compared to the number of officers and enlisted there are for the different religions there are e.g. “While just 3 percent of the military’s enlisted personal and officers call themselves Southern Baptist,Pentecostal or a member of a denomination thats part of the National Association of Evangelicals, 33 percent of chaplains in the military are members of on of those groups according to Pentagon statistics ” The article continues with this statement “Data from the Air Force indicate that 87 percent of those seeking to become chaplains are enrolled in evangelical divinity schools…” This is just part of the article in the Post Dispatch that was written by Tim Townsend….it was an interesting and troubling read.
Lottakatz,
I like your comments on Waynes posting. You are spot on about the chaplains. This has been a problem expecially at the service academies. The Air Force Academy is one example where they have had many complaints about the chaplains and the pressure on the cadets to join in.
Elaine M, Will do, It was on my watch list and I;ll do it now. There has been so much discussion the last couple of days I’ve missed some good information because it’s too much to take in in any reasonable manner and still deal with personal stuff. Thanks for the reminder.
Lottakatz,
Check out the video I posted today at 10:27 am.
Wayne Frost: “As a veteran I will say that the military command has no business advocating for or against any religious practice nor snooping in to the religious practices, if any, of members of the armed forces.
It leads to this: https://bfdblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/underming-the-first-amendment-by-creeping-christian-prostelyzation-2/
——
Not to hijack anyone else’s comment BUT:
I’ve reposted Wayne’s posting down here because we have gotten off topic and the link he posted deserves a chance to be given some attention.
One of the things it reveals is that the embedded fundamentalist chaplains are taking their service as an the opportunity to proselytize among the Afghans. This is dangerous. From what I have read of some of the extremist Muslim sects and their warlord leaders in control of large sectors of Afghanistan just to be seen talking to someone proselytizing christianity puts ones life in danger.
That the person being preached to may well have been in a highly coercive situation and unable to disengage would not lessen the danger- once tainted the damage would be done.
Also, to have active proselytizing going on will only reinforce the belief (apparently partly true!) that the US is waging a crusade against the Muslim religion. This is no doubt putting our own troops in more danger.
Our government needs to put a stop to this immediately. It’s going to get people killed and probably already has. Any job we think (mistakenly IMO) we need to do in Afghanistan stands less of a chance of success (however that is being measured today, or will be measured tomorrow) as long as we are perceived as crusaders.
Good evening LottaKraptz,
You are a female or a male? You look almost manly in that picture. But you have a feminized first name. I hope you are repentant in your living. God takes care of those who take care of us.
Thank you and thank you! Lewis Black is also one of my favorite comedians. I agree the ‘nazi tourettes’ clip is a gem. LOL
Good Evening to all.
I am here to inform you that you missed a stupendous service this very day. It amazes me that you all do not wish to be on the path to righteousness, but choose to live with eternal damnation. This suffice it to say is a personal choice, yours.
You understand that the civil unrest is increasing daily with the coming of the rapture. Please, people understand we live by the laws of divine guidance and wish to share with you our brothers and sisters in Jesus’ name our lord and savior the word as spoken. Please accept this as an apology if I made anyone feel ill towards the message that was intended earlier today. I certainly am of the impression that this Buddha is Laughing does not appear to laugh very often. This is sad, we could use someone with his great command of the word. Let us pray that Buddha is delivered from the internal conflict that he has exhibited here. Can I hear an Amen? Now let us pray for the delivery of all souls to the one that is the divine one. Thank you for this opportunity to spread the message.
Your Brother in Christ,
Chris
Lottakatz,
I’ve posted that video at least once before. I LOVE Lewis Black!
Here’s one of my favorite Daily Show Back in Black segments:
Glenn Beck has Nazi Tourette’s syndrome. I’ve seen it more than a dozen times–and it still cracks me upevery time I watch it.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1s4fj-5zlk&fs=1&hl=en_US]
Those words you keep using “good word and deeds”?
They do not think they mean what you think they mean.
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” – Luke 6:27-28
For people who think the Bible is literal, you certainly aren’t very literate. Last I checked praying for people’s death is most certainly NOT a good deed nor is it loving your “enemies”.
And there’s a difference between “spreading your word” and “warning people you are flat out crazy”.
Because I was doing the later, but not the former.
And for that, you are welcome.
See you Hell.
I’ll be in the mojito drinking section, but don’t try to get a seat. They seat the hateful insane zealots in a different section because you clowns annoy the sane sinners and Satan hates the competition when it comes to annoying people in Hell.
And what LK said.
Lottakatz,
Great video of Lewis Balck. He is one of my favorites.
Westboro Man,
Some other poster here posted this a while back, someone with wit and sensitivity and a fine mind for putting things in their proper perspective. (I admit I don’t recall who so please take a bow.)
I suggest you watch and consider taking his advise to “ask a Jew” because, while not Jewish myself, even I know you’ve just plain got it wrong.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGrlWOhtj3g&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]
LZ,
Thanks, I just got home and you expressed my sentiments exactly as I would have stated…..
They a pigs and maybe the Tax exempt status will be taken away as the are politicizing the very thing that keeps them separate…. I would call them Inglorious Bastards but I seem to recall another movie with that title…..ass wipes….
Westboro Man,
Fuck you, you godless bastard.
Elaine,
you are right…as usual.
Buddha you are also right about Westboro having no boundaries with their behavior.
Accidents are divine providence. Think.
Bdaman, I’m glad to hear your mom is OK. As to: “…fell over backwards doing physical therapy by my hands”; not your fault buddy, that’s why they’re called accidents.
Blouise, My thoughts are with you and your husband and I hope everything goes well Monday.
Goat is fine to eat. It is the shell fish and swine that must not touch human lips for you will be as unclean. God recognizes those with perfect adherence to the principals laid down by our divine savior Jesus. Please people, I do not know how to warn you that the time is near. It would be our pleasure to accept you as our newest member. Thank you for spreading the good word and deeds of our folks. It has been a pleasure to read your messages and share them with our folks. Amen, Amen I say unto thee. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. I will continue to spread the word.
Chris.