The Department of Crusades
21 December 2007 by Bob
Yeah, like, I’m sure this will just shock the hell out of all of you…
Military Evangelism Deeper, Wider Than First Thought
For US Army soldiers entering basic training at Fort Jackson Army base in Columbia, South Carolina, accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior appears to be as much a part of the nine-week regimen as the vigorous physical and mental exercises the troops must endure. That’s the message directed at Fort Jackson soldiers, some of whom appear in photographs in government issued fatigues, holding rifles in one hand, and Bibles in their other hand. Frank Bussey, director of Military Ministry at Fort Jackson, has been telling soldiers at Fort Jackson that “government authorities, police and the military = God’s Ministers[.]” Bussey’s teachings from the “God’s Basic Training” Bible study guide he authored says US troops have “two primary responsibilities”: “to praise those who do right” and “to punish those who do evil – “God’s servant, an angel of wrath.” [...] The Christian right has been successful in spreading its fundamentalist agenda at US military installations around the world for decades. But the movement’s meteoric rise in the US military came in large part after 9/11 and immediately after the US invaded Iraq in March of 2003. At a time when the United States is encouraging greater religious freedom in Muslim nations, soldiers on the battlefield have told disturbing stories of being force-fed fundamentalist Christianity by highly controversial, apocalyptic “End Times” evangelists, who have infiltrated US military installations throughout the world with the blessing of high-level officials at the Pentagon. Proselytizing among military personnel has been conducted openly, in violation of the basic tenets of the United States Constitution. [...] In July, the Pentagon’s inspector general (IG) responded to a complaint filed a year earlier by MRFF that accused Pentagon officials of violating the federal law governing the separation of church and state. The IG did not address the church/state issue, but he issued a 45-page report admonishing several high-level Pentagon officials for participating, while in uniform and on active duty, in a promotional video sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ’s Christian Embassy group. The IG report quoted one high-ranking military official as saying he believed his participation in the video was acceptable because Campus Crusade for Christ had become so embedded in the Pentagon’s day-to-day operations that he viewed the organization as a “quasi federal entity.”
So, I guess this adds a bit more information to the question of why people think “there are no atheists in foxholes” — i.e., (a) people might think this because all the insane-I-really-love-to-kill-stuff-with-guns-xians have all joined the military and have coerced others into swallowing (pretending to swallow) their bullshit; or perhaps (b), any atheist who finally gets out of this evangelical bootcamp-bullshit and into actual combat is probably scared shitless when fighting next to these people as an atheist, because these xian idiots just might kill you as an unsaved non-xian. (I’m sure there are other options — but these are disturbing enough as it is.)
How nice.
Yes, as I said, shocking. You’re all surprised, I’m sure.
21 December 2007, on 6:38 pm
That is some shit.
I’ll be honest, I served 10 years in the armed forces and never experienced anything like it. In fact, seperation of church and state was widely accepted and “preached”. We would not allow bible studies on govt grounds nor would you hear anyone preaching anything religious. Of course, my experience is the USCG not the army.
21 December 2007, on 6:56 pm
Well, there certainly are no atheists willingly in today’s foxholes because, surely, it takes a pair of shit-tinted, fundie glasses to view this current conflict as anything other than a wrongheaded, colossal fuck-up on the part of our vain and inept leaders. Still, I feel for those over there who joined up to pay for college or to start a career and found themselves brushing off wind scorpions, slowly baking in that convection oven of a climate, and dodging those pesky IEDs, trying to sort out friendlies from insurgents/terrorists in mufti, and wondering if they’ll ever see a college campus. Hell, I even feel for those gung-ho to be there because, left to their own devices, they’d be playing shoot’em up at the local paintball course.
The military is a whole other universe. They strip you down, shave your head, and fuck with your mind til any independent streak is buried. And that’s necessary because, as soldiers, they have to work as a team, to trust the grunt that’s got your back and to earn the trust of the one who’s back you’ve got. Yeah, it’s like fraternity hazing run amok, it’s cruel, it’s inhumane, all that shit but it serves it’s purpose and there wouldn’t be much point to having a military without it.
This time around, though, really since Vietnam, there isn’t that universal bogeyman, an agreed upon foe to despise and focus all that aggression. There’s no Kaiser, no Hitler, no Johnny Reb. It might be different if bin Laden had an actual army to engage. It might even be a little different for the troops who end up in Afghanistan with at least a slim chance of meeting up with someone involved in 9/11. Sure, a few probably buy into the administration rhetoric lock, stock, and two smoking barrels- probably even a few that still think Saddam blew up the WTC. But, like Vietnam, you’ve got a steady murmur of dissent, a constant scrunching of features and asking just “What the fuck we’re doing here?” It’s bad for morale, bad for PR, bad for W.
It seems as though one way they’re using to combat this problem is by couching the conflict in the grandiose fantasy and utter bullshit of Crusade- the taking up of the Cross cum Richard the Lionhearted, of a Clash of Civilizations, with ultimate honors to be won against the infidel. It’s all a crock of shit but it plays into most soldiers’ at least casual affinity for religion, to most young men’s romantic notion of a warrior knight- see any Marines commercial.
Actually, what’s shocking, Bob, is that it’s news at all that this is going on. As if the public at large just may have a problem with that. That maybe we’ve become secular enough as a society to be offended by such indoctrination. Like, maybe it’s a good thing that we’re actually hearing about this at all?
21 December 2007, on 8:51 pm
This is disturbing, to say the least. I just hope the Navy isn’t anything like this.
21 December 2007, on 9:40 pm
That’s definitely a good guess — but, as usual, I just don’t know how much such a guess is worth. Of course, I’d very much like that to be the case, but then my skepticism looms over my shoulder.
For those who care, there’s a useful link here, and a really cool slogan on a product here.
21 December 2007, on 9:54 pm
This is absurd! I never imagined that a day would come when I would even remotely contemplate joining a militia and living off the grid in fear of my governments’ “holy” army. Of course: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Right, because that could never happen in America. Until one night when all non-xians will wake up to the sound of army boots hoofing into their homes. They’ll drag us out and put us in a transport to a camp where we’ll all get baptized, with gas. We don’t learn shit from history.
21 December 2007, on 10:17 pm
This post made me think of this scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s9F7p3w9jQ
22 December 2007, on 1:26 am
Who was it that said (I’m probably paraphrasing) when facism comes to America it will come wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross?
22 December 2007, on 1:49 am
“Who was it that said (I’m probably paraphrasing) when facism comes to America it will come wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross?”
Sinclair Lewis.
22 December 2007, on 2:23 am
then perhaps it’s bad… maybe
22 December 2007, on 7:53 am
There has long been this holy-roller theme in the American military. “John Brown’s Body” was transformed into “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=uU1GvaIJHXU#gI2NApHXDEk
There were various different lyrics to it.
Of course Bob Dylan said it very well in “With God on our Side”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziuMEX2SeK0&feature=related
I may have mentioned it some time ago, but Mark Twain had his own version of the Battle Hymn in protest of the American occupation of the Philippines.
http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/twainwp.htm
22 December 2007, on 2:56 pm
Well, kids, it just shows to go ya. People are pretty much the same all over. It doesn’t matter what is for sale, it only matters that you make the purchase. Having done so, you are now counted as on of the elect by those who are paid to promote the thing you have bought. You are now owned and applied as an advertising gimmick.
To those who have made the purchase the question is asked, “How do you like surrendering personal authority to a myth amplified by a whim (which may change at any moment)?
sigh
22 December 2007, on 3:02 pm
Actually, this makes perfect sense since Jesus is our president.
22 December 2007, on 4:14 pm
Now that I think about it, instead of a “myth amplified by a whim” it may as well be a whim amplified by a myth. For all I know. And for all our Ur-grandfathers knew when they made up some stories in an attempt to reign in querulous children.
Perhaps I should consult someone who is familiar with this sort of conundrum. Someone who is steeped in the numinous side of things. The inner workings, you see.
Now, to decide. Priest or Scientist?
The priest will tell me that everything is OK. The scientist will tell me that everything is OK as far as we can tell. The religious among us hate that, for it robs their sails of wind. They want desperately, and proclaim endlessly, that they know it all.
Have you ever been, just tired? I mean, really worn and scuffed and contemplating recycling?
22 December 2007, on 4:29 pm
What’s the problem here? My parents are the missionaries for Campus Crusade in this story. They raise their own support so no federal dollars pay for anything. Also, the soldiers come on their own. They are not required to be there. There are opportunities for other religions to worship on base. The reason the guns are in the picture is because they soldiers have to carry them everywhere. They asked to take the picture that way.
People should interview my dad before they print a story about him.
22 December 2007, on 5:26 pm
There are opportunities for other religions to worship on base. The reason the guns are in the pict…………………….
So the soldiers that have died were protected from this dulustional god they worshiped him for what reason. Tell me more…..
Oh right! there is plenty of AMMO in the bible on how to kill
Why would anyone wish to interview your father on how religion detroys. His answer would be ….
You are commenting in an Atheist page so I hope your are more enlightened than your father
22 December 2007, on 5:59 pm
Wyatt,
That’s fine. I have atheists who comment on my page on a daily basis and they are my friends. I have no problem with those who don’t believe in God. I’m tolerant of other beliefs, I just wish people would be tolerant of mine.
22 December 2007, on 7:33 pm
I just wish people would be tolerant of mine.
Kevin B…Christians are the majority in this country. Christians make up a huge portion of the world’s population. Until recently, most Christians in this country have respected the Constitution and the Separation of Church and State. Why are you crying persecution and crying that people are being intolerant when we only want to uphold the U.S. Constitution? Evangelicals don’t want just “tolerance”, they want to conquer and dominate in Jeebus’ name.
22 December 2007, on 8:03 pm
Stardust,
Explain to me what the constitutional problem is with soldiers voluntarily going to a class on their off time?
As to the majority being Christians, I doubt that. People may say they are Christians but they don’t act like Jesus.
22 December 2007, on 8:46 pm
Explain to me what the constitutional problem is with soldiers voluntarily going to a class on their off time?
I know from experience being married to a veteran that the US Military “owns” you when you are a soldier, 100% of the time whether you carry a gun or not. There might be “free time” but not off time from duty as a soldier. If going to mythology class is voluntary, that is one thing, but intimidation and brainwashing to “win soldiers for Jeebus” which is so often used, especially in basic training in redneck USA is absolutely wrong.
Let me point out a few things about “off time”. When you go shopping for groceries on your “off time” at the commissary, if an officer’s wife wants the steak you just picked up to look at, she grabs it out of your hand and you can’t say anything because she will go back and tell her officer husband what happened and my enlisted husband’s life would be hell. If my husband was walking around town and came upon one of his officers, he had to stop and salute even when the asshole was on the other side of the street. If these officers would order people to show up for anything, you better darn well be there. If they would tell you to show up for Babble study, you would go or your ass would be grass.
As to the majority being Christians, I doubt that. People may say they are Christians but they don’t act like Jesus.
So, now we are back to the who’s the “True Xian” argument. Put all you xians of all denominations into an arena and you would probably all kill each other trying to prove who loves their imaginary friend the most. 86% of this country is Christian and all Xian sects think they have it right.
22 December 2007, on 9:05 pm
stardust i couldnt agree with you more
23 December 2007, on 1:49 am
It is a monopoly of the truth. The numbers are always changing. This time we get 86%, but last time it was 91%.
Oh, Kevin Bussey, it would not be such big deal if everyone would mind their own business.
Christians are the majority. They have a problem with everyone but themselves. One size does not fit all. If I were to come out and tell everyone that I am an atheist they would lecture, condemned etc. But it is okay for someone of the christian faith to speak out.
Xenophobia, everyone has it.
23 December 2007, on 1:55 am
Bussey, no offense but – I think you’re a fucking liar.
You can’t spin this insanity away. THIS IS ILLEGAL.
23 December 2007, on 3:01 am
What’s the problem here? My parents are the missionaries for Campus Crusade in this story. They raise their own support so no federal dollars pay for anything. Also, the soldiers come on their own. They are not required to be there.
Did you even read the snippet that Bob posted above? Doesn’t sound totally voluntary to me. And if you’ve read Mikey Weinstien’s book you would know that not only is it not always voluntary but often those who don’t buy into the program are harassed and punished.
Ultimately, it’s a separation issue and the fundies are trying to knock down the wall and become a “quasi federal entity”. You are free to have your religious beliefs while in the military, but you are not a soldier for any god, you are a soldier for the country which means the people. God is a distant second to a soldier’s loyalty to the Constitution and the country. Leave the religious zealotry to the crazies in the Middle East.
23 December 2007, on 4:20 am
Kevin Bussey, the military pays useless skypilots, aka chaplains, to promote gawd. Why waste taxpayer money on a completely irrelevant post? Recently a marine chaplain was convicted of sexual aggression. Some of these chaplains use CCC propaganda,
http://web.archive.org/web/20041022235828/milmin.com/chaplains/chaplaincomments.htm
“Your prayers for us are appreciated. God is drawing me closer and I am very expectant for Him to do great things here.”
“Please pass along a big ‘thank you’ from the Rangers. The military ministry staff has been very supportive in providing resources for Bible study and evangelism.”
“evangelism”. That is the problem.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son – and a bunch of guns and ammunition”.
You don’t have paid atheist counselors in the military trying to enlighten brainwashed believers.
I am tolerant of other people’s superstitious beliefs as long as they keep them at home or in their churches. I am not tolerant of missionaries spreading lies and nonsense.
23 December 2007, on 4:32 am
Just one example of the ignorance and stupidity of CCC,
“The question is, can we accept as true what Jesus [God the Son], claimed? The most conclusive evidence establishing the deity of Christ is the historically verifiable resurrection. The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4) If the resurrection of Christ is true, then it is possible and, indeed, logical to believe all His claims and miracles including His assertion of the complete validity of the Old Testament. They would be what one would expect from God.
The primary reason that Jesus is the only way to God is that He forgives sin and offers eternal life, (John 10:28) something that the founder of no other major religion has claimed to do. Think about that!”
http://web.archive.org/web/20060423051213/www.greatcom.org/resources/toughquestions/tq1/default.htm
“historically verifiable”?! LOL.
There are no “miracles” and no “sins” and there is no “eternal life”. Missionaries who promote those things are mentally deranged.
23 December 2007, on 9:20 am
God is a distant second to a soldier’s loyalty to the Constitution and the country. Leave the religious zealotry to the crazies in the Middle East.
Exactly! And no, Bruce, it is obvious that Kevin didn’t read the post or failed to comprehend it (or is all out ignoring it.)
23 December 2007, on 9:54 am
[*sigh*]
If “acting like Jesus” involves Romans 13:4, as your parents claim on their website, then they’re actually doing their job of killing people for Jesus and resting comfortably knowing that they’re in the right.
(And hey, even if they do have any doubts when they’re soaked in the blood of their friends, or of children — or the blood of former parents and looking at recently created orphans — they’ll just go “ask forgiveness” from your Dad anyway, right? I’m sure he’ll take good care of them.)
But more important, if “acting like Jesus” involves both Romans 13:4 and Luke 3:14 (or 6:29), then it seems your savior and your creed assume a few personality disorders. Another great quality to have for war, isn’t it? Nice little racket your folks got there.
So, have a Merry Christmas, Kevin, and embrace the fact that your god required an innocent proxy as a sacrifice in order for him to forgive people for stuff they didn’t even do.
23 December 2007, on 3:20 pm
Don’t forget the Jeebus psychopath of Revelations 2.
14 February 2008, on 11:08 pm
[...] US military accused of harboring fundamentalism . . . again By Stardust We have discussed this a couple of times, HERE and HERE and now here is yet another news story about fundies in the military who will stop at nothing to transform the United States military into an army of God. WASHINGTON (AFP) – Since his last combat deployment in Iraq, Jeremy Hall has had a rough time, getting shoved and threatened by his fellow soldiers. The trouble started there when he would not pray in the mess hall. [...]