We are often discussing stories of religious intolerance and sectarian prejudice on this blog, so it is refreshing to report an act of kindness and tolerance on occasion. Despite opposition from Christian groups, the United States Air Force Academy has established an area for pagans to pray in Colorado called the Falcon Circle. The academy’s senior chaplain, Col. Robert Bruno, insisted that freedom of religion means that cadets should be able to practice their religion — a novel concept to some who later desecrated the religious site.
Ironically, as soon as Christianity took root, some followers proceeded to shake off their own oppression by turning against others, particularly pagans. One of the most famous was Hypatia who a remarkable woman — Neoplatonist philosopher in Roman Egypt and mathematician. She was murdered by a Christian mob after being accused of causing religious turmoil.
The circle cost just $50,000 but some Christian groups are up in arms over the accommodation of another faith. Yet, Col. Bruno was defiant — and right:
“The First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion does not just apply to the mainstream faith groups. It also applies to atheists, secularists, freethinkers and those whose belief systems are usually classified under the umbrella term ‘Earth-centered spirituality,’ . . . A denial of constitutional rights to one threatens the constitutional rights of all.”
My father’s firm, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, built the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel designed by renowned architect Walter Netsch. I grew up with Netsch and his wife Dawn Clark (who later was on my law school faculty when I was a law student) as close family friends and I believe both my Dad and Walter would have been proud of the Air Force for the accommodation extended to all faiths.
Bravo, Col. Bruno, Bravo!
Source: Denver Post as first seen on Reddit.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/06/national/main919947.shtml A Jewish cadet sued.
Jill, I toured there when Bush was president and thought it was a reflection of his presidency and the surrounding city of Colorado Springs. Also, the Air Force Academy for the most part attracts young people with a conservative christian republican mindset in my opinion.
5thGradeChief,
“We pose a question that is obvious if the First Amendment is being raised and that is how any public funds can be expended on behalf of any religious effort. ”
Good question but too late. The Air Force Academy Chapel is absolutely gorgeous. Google it if you’re not familiar with it. Should we now say that enough has been spent on religious efforts, now that the Christians have a beautiful place to worship? Should we have the Chapel torn down? Or should we make room for other religious beliefs? Where do the Jews and the Muslims worship? Or are there no Jews or Muslims at the Academy?
S.M.
So do you ever question why? Why isn’t the commander in chief coming down on this christianification of the armed forces like a ton of bricks? It is dangerous. Why would he let it go on? Why is the Pentagon and the State Dept. hiring mercenary crusaders for “protection” in Muslim lands?
There are multiple connections going on here. It’s great to see part of the connections but we need to see the whole. We cannot do this, when partisanship stands in the way.
Jill: I don’t get it. Please explain further.
Christians can be so un-christian.
Have been on a tour of the Air Force Academy chapel in Colorado Springs. The tour was not on my agenda of things to do…. My impression was that the whole place felt too christian and I am glad that the colonel stood up. It doesn’t help matters that the academy is located in Colorado Springs, a hotbed of fundamentalists including the Rev. James Dobson.
True evangelicals look forward to the end times, even to the point of seeking ways to play a role in hastening its arrival.
And what better way to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event than to drive the planes that carry the bombs and the troops that ensure the hell, fire, and brimstone destruction that has been prophesied?
Perhaps this is why we hear so much of this coming from our military in general, but especially from the Air Force and the Academy. As Blouise said, “the Air Force had morphed into a Christian fundamentalist.”
Good on you, Colonel Bruno.
The protection of rights for everyone is a very high ethical standard which is being abandoned by many in our society, not simply right wing religious people.
The return of a high ethical standard which does not allow the rights of others to be taken for religious or political expediency is the way out of the crisis our nation faces.
It is so easy for people who consider themselves liberals to see this abandonment of ethics in right wing people. They are unable to see it in their own lives. It is important to see the truth in every situation, even when it means confronting something one does not want to see in oneself.
The ease of condemnation by people on the “left” while they themselves abandon others to the wolves for the sake of “winning” an election is really something that should be examined.
The Cult of the 5thGrade could make neither hide nor hair of this article. The sentences and paragraphs are disjointed and one wonders if there is a thread to this stitching. We pose a question that is obvious if the First Amendment is being raised and that is how any public funds can be expended on behalf of any religious effort. The dollar spent is not sanctified on First Amendment grounds if it is spent to promote six religions and not one. Belief systems at the Air Academy should be grounded on sounder principles such as gravity, wind speed, and notions of scientific value which might prevent the cadet from falling to earth from a moving plane rather rising toward heaven after so doing.
I had the pleasure of meeting her, too. Lived in her neighborhood for awhile. She was very active in democratic politics. It was too bad that she lost but she was ahead of her time. Her opponent, Jim Edgar, was middle of the road but not a bad republican by today’s standards My husband attended Northwestern Law, also. Don’t know he if he was in any her classes.
I will try it one more time. It is refreshing to see the Air Force Academy take the correct stand on religion.
Prof., my wife and I met Walter Netsch and Dawn Clark Netsch when she was running for Governor. Our dear friend, Penny Severns was her running mate and we met them after the polls had closed at what was supposed to be a victory party! Unfortunately, the voters had other ideas.
Sadly, our armed forces in general and the AF in particular have been viewed as fertile proselytizing ground by evangelicals, so that Jeeezuss is invoked for any occasion, and those who do not wear their religion on their sleeve (or, horrors, have another religion or no religion) are stigmatized.
This is a powerful act. The BBC just had a segment on the attacks by muslims on christians who afterwards attacked and burnt a mosque. In the report a commentator from Nigeria spoke of the chaos that was taking place in that nation and how powerful people used religious hatred to bolster their power in the society.
I find that exactly analogous to the US where our “leaders” find it useful to stir up hatred of one group against another.
That way out of that chaos, of turning against ones’ neighbors is to hold fast to justice and freedom for all people, even those we disagree with. Insistence on following the rule of law protects everyone. We must refuse to attack those whom the powerful tell us to attack. Instead we should protect the rights even of those we despise. It will end up protecting our own rights as well, but more importantly, it should be an expression of our own commitment to justice.
rcampbell….
You are right…
There have been stories of Jews and atheists being bullied at the Academy so its a good thing to see the Chaplin stand up against it. Not that I think it will help much but at least it puts opposition to the abuse out there in an offical way
“Despite opposition from Christian groups…
‘Nuff said.
The Air Force had morphed into a Christian fundamentalist haven causing many attendees unnecessary and often extreme pain and anguish. The desecration of Falcon Circle indicates the Christian Taliban Terrorists are still wrecking havoc within the Armed Forces of the United States.
However, Col. Bruno seems to have taken the matter firmly in hand. It isn’t an easy job dealing with those crazed Christian lunatics. I recommend mass courts-martial, dishonorable discharges, and Leavenworth for instructors … and a swift kick in the pants out the door for attendees with continued boots to the ass all the way to the bus stop.
I have no sympathy for any of these religious bullies and wish them all the worst the world has to give. No joke.
Don’t piss on my tree….If I can’t s*&^ in your church….
That was a mighty quick historical perspective from being druid to force fed christian…..accurate…but hit the low lights…