Pentagon: Religious Proselytizing is Not Permitted

[caojyn]

Hahaha... I usually just keep to myself, even when a debate presents itself. Religion/personal views are just too personal to an individual to just sway an opinion on the spot.

If I had to pigeon hole myself I'd go with

Apatheist- acknowledgement that any amount of debate can neither prove, nor disprove, the existence of one or more deities, and if one or more deities exist, they do not appear to be concerned about the fate of humans. Therefore, their existence has little to no impact on personal human affairs and should be of little theological interest.

 

[RETOKSQUID]

Its crap like this that makes me wonder if we should label atheist as dangerous extremist. After all, isn't using fear to push your beliefs onto others and make them conform to what you think the way things should be a form of terroism?

Flame away.... :-)

 

[mons meg]

I call BS. I served and NEVER felt pressure to attend services. NEVER.

You weren't at MCRD San Diego in 1987, I take it.

 

[mons meg]

I didn't mean to use "extremist" in a sense that implies violence, only the actual definition of the word which states that their beliefs fall a bit outside of the Christian norm.

I'm with R. Johnson. Evangelicals and (most) Catholics self identify with historic Christianity. I self identify as "Evangelical" and I go to a "conservative" Presbyterian church, but we don't go around holding up Westboro style signs or picket clinics.

Also, evangelical <> fundamentalist

 

[Dave70968]

If you believed in equality then you would be defending my right to tell you about God as much as you are defending your right to tell me there isn't one. If I can talk to my friends about the local bar and invite them, tell them about a local restaurant and invite them, even tell them about the local house of ill repute and invite them, why can't I tell them about the local church and invite them? That IS being biased against religion and IS unconstitutional.

Nobody said you can't. The issue here isn't so much proselytizing as it's proselytizing in the context of a command relationship, i.e. abuse of power, whether actual or apparent. The military is a special beast, apart from the rest of society, in that individuals don't have the freedom to say no or walk away if they don't want to hear what's being said. If you want to tell me about God, go right ahead. I can put you on my ignore list and be on my merry.

Try that in the Army and you'll find yourself in the stockade.

 

[n2sooners]

Nobody said you can't. The issue here isn't so much proselytizing as it's proselytizing in the context of a command relationship, i.e. abuse of power, whether actual or apparent. The military is a special beast, apart from the rest of society, in that individuals don't have the freedom to say no or walk away if they don't want to hear what's being said. If you want to tell me about God, go right ahead. I can put you on my ignore list and be on my merry.

Try that in the Army and you'll find yourself in the stockade.

Actually, they are saying you can't. Proselytizing is nothing more than telling someone about your religion and/or inviting them to church services. Those stories people bring up aren't proselytizing. They may be abuse of power or illegal orders but they aren't proselytizing. Proselytizing has nothing to do with giving orders or using force. What they are suggesting amounts to banning target shooting in an attempt to prevent violent crime. And what the activists are trying to get the government to enforce is the mention of religion at all. They equate it to spiritual rape to even have to hear someone talk about religion.

 

[Sanford]

Always interesting to me that many of the folks who espouse "tolerance" for their own beliefs and opinions are often the most intolerant of those with whose beliefs and opinions they disagree.

 

[RickN]

Always interesting to me that many of the folks who espouse "tolerance" for their own beliefs and opinions are often the most intolerant of those with whose beliefs and opinions they disagree.

Exactly!!!!!

 

[ignerntbend]

I come from a very long tradition of religious intolerance as do most people. I have a couple of sects to pick from either of which would compel YOU to accept MY religion. The religous liberty of my people would require me to go into all lands and teach.

I think I'll just pass on all of that.

If you are in a position of authority in the military, you've pledged an oath to Uncle Sam.
No offence, but if the military is your day job, your first loyalty is to Uncle Sam rather than Jesus or Mohamed.

Military service is voluntary at this point.
If you want to preach, do it in civilian life.
What's stopping you?

 

[RickN]

Wrapping all of us atheists into that one pile is like putting all of y'all in the Westboro clan. Believe it or not, some of us aren't militant to push our views... I've never knocked on a door to share the truth.

Sorry I meant to say "some atheists" and I do agree, but I also know not all religious people try to push their beliefs.