Local Groups continue to meet around the world. A new group at Eglin-Hurlburt AFB is hoping to attract members in the Pensacola area. There are also several individuals who have stepped up as Lay Leaders and Local Points of Contact, including at FE Warren AFB, WY, Bagram, Afghanistan, Ft Bliss, TX, Minot AFB, ND, and Kirtland AFB, NM. You can find these and other activities in your area at the MAAF Network.
North Bay MASH at Travis AFB, BBQ, May 6th
Find local group updates – Continue reading
A recent email from the office of Representative Todd Akin (R-MO) office lays out plans for the next battle in the implementation of the Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. A House Armed Services Committee session on May 8th will discuss amendments to the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act, which updates the military budget and policy. The Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers supports atheists and humanists in the military as a primary goal, and that includes protecting our government and military from sectarian religious interests. MAAF finds the issue of gay rights in the military to be challenged exclusively by fundamentalist religious interests vying not for the right to free exercise of religion but rather for the right to free discrimination on the basis of religion. Representative Akin’s office has reinforced that perception with a recent development of amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Legislative Director Justin Johnson wrote
On the chaplain/DOMA issue, the plan is to split the consensus language into two amendments: a conscience protection clause and the application of DOMA to military bases. Rep. Akin is planning to offer the conscience protection clause amendment, and Rep. Palazzo is planning to offer the DOMA on military bases amendment. We believe that having two amendments gives us the strongest hand going into conference with the Senate.
This tactic and proposed wording changes were sent to several House staffers for review and was also sent to some of the most outspoken anti-gay Christian leaders. The email was sent not to general email addresses but directly to top leaders and senior legal counsel.
All equal or some set above others?
Today’s chaplaincy has been assigned care and counseling, free exercise, and establishment clause responsibilities far outside their faith-based roots.[1] The military chaplaincy, and to some extent the civilian chaplaincy, is faced with a more diverse laity than ever in the past. Chaplaincy originally constituted assistance by the clergy in a Christian fashion from the story of Martin of Tours.[2] In the US military, Protestant and Catholics were the original clergy appointed by George Washington.[3] Abraham Lincoln opened the military chaplaincy to the Jewish faith.[4] This Judeo-Christian or even “god”-only focus will no longer fulfill the mission. The general population of the military represents over 100 different denominations even after accounting for nearly one-quarter stating the nebulous “No Religious Preference”.[5] The chaplaincy, to remain relevant and effective within its resource limitations, must better define the scope of its services. The IRS provides an objective and useful “church” standard to define the scope of chaplaincy services.
When considering the scope of chaplaincy services, the first question often asked is, “what is religion”? One senior chaplain (who wishes to remain anonymous) offered the Supreme Court’s “pornography” definition for religion, which is to say “I know it when I see it”.[6] This cursory response translates in practice to, “if it’s got God, it’s religion; if not, then it’s just a hobby”. The Department of Defense through its Equal Opportunity regulation defines religion primarily as “deeply-held beliefs”.[7] The MAAF has suggested a framework of core identity, values and beliefs, and a community of like-minded individuals. The dictionary definition of religion will provide some combination of all of these ideas. However, wrestling with definitions may be altogether avoidable.
A better question to ask is to what extent, if any, chaplains will provide (non-sectarian) pastoral care services to diverse communities of belief. There are military personnel, families, patients, and inmates who need support for their overall well-being, be that from a spiritual or naturalistic perspective. People, military or civilian, theistic or nontheistic, struggle with questions of ultimate concern about life, death, tragedy, meaning, and other areas. Chaplains should be willing and able to help individuals using more than just their own faith-based toolkit. The patient will profess certain beliefs, and the chaplain should provide support on the terms of the patient/soldier/etc.[8] Chaplains will be best equipped to support those who share a specific or at least compatible faith tradition with the chaplain (e.g., Lutherans helping Methodists). There are few conflicts for major faith groups (e.g., Protestants helping Protestants and Jews helping Jews). However, in the military especially, chaplains are the only resource available to provide support for all, even those of disparate beliefs (e.g., Mormons helping Wiccans). The ability and requirement for a chaplain to support those outside his or her faith tradition is what distinguishes a chaplain from civilian clergy.
View as pdf: Playing Favorites MAAF 20120424
The following is a review of an author and text of interest to MAAF readers. This is not an ad, but an objective review with no financial interest for MAAF.
Rethinking Depression is a resource by a foxhole atheist that would be helpful for foxhole atheists and for military leaders who desire to help foxhole atheists lead happier and more meaningful lives.
Eric Maisel holds a PhD in counseling psychology. He is a life coach with nearly 30 titles to his credit in the areas of happiness, creativity, mental health, and meaning. My previous experience is with his book The Atheist’s Way and the related podcast series. I was impressed with the focus on Making Meaning in life and have enjoyed hearing him speak in person. Dr Maisel is also an atheist and an Army veteran. Because Dr Maisel is one of us, a former foxhole atheist, and has been supportive of our community in his book The Atheist’s Way, I wanted to review for our community his newest book, Rethinking Depression.
Depression falls into the field of mental health and personal well-being. All branches of the military have been tackling these issues due to the rise of Post-Traumatic Stress and suicides in recent years. One primary solution they have implemented is “Spiritual Fitness.” This focus on “spirituality” has been overly-religious in nature and has alienated much of the nontheist community. Dr Maisel’s book on depression addresses the well-being of a person on the level of meaning, which falls into the area of what the military is calling “spirituality.” However, Dr Maisel’s approach, with Rethinking Depression, and several other titles, provides a more naturalistic perspective the military should consider in reforming their “Spiritual Fitness” and other programs related to mental health and well-being. Continue reading
Last month, MAAF received two reports of sectarian Christian prayer at mandatory military events. At Ft Campbell, a battalion chaplain was leading his unit in prayer during regular morning formations. At Ft Benning, at senior NCO reported mandatory graduation ceremonies often include prayer “in Jesus’s Name”. An Army spokesperson declared these practices entirely within Army policy. These issues arise not due to individuals taking offense at prayer, but rather due to officers using their authority to promote religion. Non-Christians are made to feel like lesser members of the unit who need to hide their beliefs or pretend to be Christian in order to have the full support of the command.
The 1st Amendment provides for free exercise of religion for individuals and prohibits establishment of religion in government. This has created great legal difficulty for government officials wishing to use their official duties for prayers. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of limited, optional nonsectarian prayer (Marsh v Chambers, 463 US 783 (1983)). There is a dizzying array of legal precedent regarding government-sponsored prayer and religious activity, but the core concept is clear – that the government should be neutral toward religion.
MAAF contacted the Army regarding their policy on sectarian prayer, especially at mandatory events such as graduations and if the Army had a policy regarding “nonsectarian” prayer. Army spokesman George Wright provided only the following response:
The Army doesn’t mandate how a chaplain ought to pray.
The Army has the best interests of some chaplains in mind but seems to be overlooking entirely over 500,000 soldiers in the active component. The question is not of how chaplains pray, but rather how they pray to captive military audiences. Chaplains are given a captive audience to serve the best interests of the military, not as an accommodation of their personal religious practices. The Army is not providing for free exercise of religion, but are instead providing an unregulated government platform for evangelism.
This may seem fair until we remember that 98% of chaplains are Christian. This creates an unavoidable impression of government promotion of Christianity. To avoid this appearance of government promotion of one belief over others, many government agencies and even chaplains opt for nonsectarian prayer to “God” rather than Jesus, Allah, Vishnu, or another specific deity. This still excludes nontheists but it is at least nonsectarian. The only way to ensure government neutrality toward religion is for commanders to avoid prayer at mandatory events. Continue reading