Controversy draws attention to military ban on ‘proselytism’

Last updated on: May 8, 2013 at 6:08 am by CNA Daily News

Controversy draws attention to military ban on ‘proselytism’ 2013-05-08T06:08:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., May 8, 2013 / 12:08 am (CNA).- Uncertainty over what constitutes coercive “proselytism,” which is barred by military policy, has led to concern and criticism of recent statements by the U.S. Department of Defense.

“Service members can share their faith (evangelize), but must not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one's beliefs (proselytization),” Defense Department spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen said May 2.

Military commanders take action on complaints of religious harassment “based on the gravity of occurrence on a case by case basis,” he said in a statement.

Christensen said the Defense Department works to ensure that service members are free to practice their religion “in a manner that is respectful of other individuals’ rights to follow their own belief systems; and in ways that are conducive to good order and discipline.”

The statement comes amid concerns regarding reports claiming that Defense Department policy would put Christians at risk of facing court martial for sharing their religious beliefs. The reports cited department statements banning “proselytism” without defining the term.

New 2012 rules from the U.S. Air Force say superiors must avoid “the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion,” USA Today reports.

Concerns particularly focused on an April 23 meeting between several military leaders and Mikey Weinstein, president of the New Mexico-based Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who has characterized his opponents in extreme terms.

In an April 16 opinion piece published at the Huffington Post, Weinstein said he is fighting “incredibly well-funded gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters” who force “their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation's armed forces.”

However, despite various media reports, Christensen denied that Weinstein is part of any Defense Department advisory group or a consultant on religious matters. Rather, he said, Weinstein was granted a meeting with certain officers in order “to express his concerns on religious issues in the military.”

Still, there are concerns over how differences are determined between acceptable “evangelization” and punishable “proselytization.” These worries are partly sparked by Weinstein’s comments, reported by the Associated Press, that a Christian bumper sticker on an officer’s car or a Bible on an officer’s desk can amount to “pushing this fundamentalist version of Christianity on helpless subordinates.”

The Department of Defense declined to offer further comments to CNA on what activities are considered evangelization as compared to proselytization.

Former Marine Joe Carter, who is editor for the Alabama-based Gospel Coalition, wondered about this distinction and how strictly the rules would be applied.

“We don't want your boss saying you have to go to a Bible study,” he told USA Today. “But what if he just invites you?”

Ron Crews, a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve colonel who heads the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, asked that more attention be paid to service members’ rights to share and live their faith.

“Saying that a service member cannot speak of his faith is like telling a service member he cannot talk about his spouse or children,” Crews said in a statement on the group’s website.

“The Air Force cannot ban personnel from protected religious speech, and I certainly hope that it is willing to listen to the numerous individuals and groups that actually live out and protect military religious liberty, all without demonizing other service members.”

Christensen said the Defense Department places “a high value” on the rights of service members to observe their religious tenets, including the right to hold no beliefs. He added that the Defense Department will never “single out a particular religious group for persecution or prosecution” and makes “reasonable accommodations” for all religions.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 7, 2013

HHS appeal withdrawal gives temporary relief to Bible publisher

Next Post

May 8, 2013 Ethicist lauds Ireland's ruling against assisted suicide

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who follows the rider of the Pale Horse in Revelation?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Four Winds The Saints Hades The Angel Gabriel