First Armed Forces Buddhist Chaplain Commissioned

http://www.news.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=16404

 

Very interesting. When I was in the military what few Bahai's, Buddhists, and other non-Christians were at my bases, sought spiritual counsel from Unitarian, Universalist, or Jewish chaplains.

Nice to see other faiths represented in the DOD chaplaincy program.

 

Why?

BLD

 

While it is interesting in the name of equality it doesn't fly for practicality. Canada has an Islamic chaplain for fewer that 100 declared Muslims. Any one base probably has less than 10.

The only meaningful function is being an advocate for Muslim interests.

If he were to be appointed a battalion chaplain, I suspect there would be really small church parades.

 

Hi Barry,

Let me begin by saying first and foremost, Jesus Chirst is the Lord and Saviour and His teachings reign supreme over any other religous personality in history.

Having clarified that, I believe people have the right to follow whatever faith they wish, although I'd rather have them be Christian and accept Christ. Many do, but until they do, they need spiritual representation and that's the basis of my previous comment.

 

Okay,
I was just curious as to why you thought it was a good idea. As a Christian I wish there were no chaplains other than Christian ones. As an American I see that there needs to be representation of other faiths, I'm just not sure where to draw the line? If we had to have chaplains to represent every possible religious belief it would be an impossible task. I wonder how they decide which religion gets chaplains and which ones don't?

BLD

 

I think I remember reading that there has to be a certain percentage of a certain faith, denomination represented in the military. I am not sure, but think I read something along these lines.

 

It's interesting that the Institute of Buddhist Studies is California Approved. It offers its MA jointly with the RA Graduate Theological Union.

This raises another issue. Military chaplains are one of a small number of applications that require recognized religious practitioners to have accredited degrees. But apart from Christianity (and Judaism if you count AARTS), most religions don't train their clergymen in universities (or in degree-granting seminaries modeled on universities).

Even the IBS/GTU MA program seems to be more of an academic Buddhist studies degree than a practical clergyman's degree. The only RA Buddhist-friendly M.Div. program that I know of comes out of Naropa in Boulder Colorado.

I don't know of any accredited Muslim or Hindu programs for prospective clergymen, though there are a handful of academic programs treating those religions that might do in a pinch. I believe that the military has recognized a handful of Muslim chaplains, but I don't have a clue what their educational background was.

I agree.

My understanding is that the military has long been arranging for civilian Buddhist practitioners to minister to Buddhist service members, either on base or off-base. Most bases here in California provide that, since Buddhists exist in the surrounding community. (It might be harder to arrange in Oklahoma or Alabama.)

So these are kind of unofficial chaplains or something, though I don't recall the actual term that's used. In a way that's appropriate, since Buddhist monk isn't really a calling that's consistent with military life. The problems come on operational deployments, I guess, since the civilian clergy wouldn't accompany the soldiers.

That's a valid point.

I guess that the same observation would apply to Jewish chaplains, since I suppose that the proportion of Jews in individual units is small.

I don't know how the military addresses this (maybe some of you can educate me). But if I were in charge, I'd probably use these non-Christian chaplains as circuit-clergy. I would have them travel from unit to unit as conditions permit, ministering to those that desire it on a periodic basis. There could be a schedule or perhaps soldiers could put in requests or something.

 

Hi Bill and Barry:

My religion does not permit military chaplains. Instead, we fund nearby or itinerant civilian pastors. We do not permit them because 1) we do not acknowledge theological parity with other groups--and so participate in no ecumenical or interfaith events, and 2) because we believe strictly in separation of church and state.

Certainly, though, Buddhists in the military have every right to be catered to by a chaplain of their own if (and I know of no reason why they wouldn't) Buddhist religious authorities are willing to participate in military chaplaincy. This person appears academically well-qualified, and I presume she has the appropriate endorsement from Buddhist religious authorities. Is Lt. Shin a nun? (I noticed the hairdo).

Barry, the line-drawing problem you mention is one we see as well. I would ask you to consider, though, your implicit notion that it is the business of the government to assist in the proclamation of the Gospel (and that, therefore, you wish there were no Buddhist, etc., chaplains). I am not trying to fight with you or debate with you. Just mull it over sometime.

What happens to the purity of Christian doctrine when we take the king's shilling? Does the heartstrings-tug "oh, but there are folks that need us" mean that doctrinal compromise is OK (how many falsehoods is it acceptable to tell about Jesus)?

Cordially, Janko

 

What about participation in an interfaith forum? Does the synod know about your participation on DegreeInfo, Unk?

 

I guess it depends on how much influence we allow the government to have on us, which would differ based on which "shilling" we're taking. For instance, most churches in the USA have tax exempt status. I would include that in the "king's shilling" but it doesn't have any effect on us at all.

BLD

 

Not yet. There is a movement underway which could end a church's tax exempt if the the pastor preaches against homosexuality from the pulpit.

Also, if a church refuses to marry same-sex couples, tax exemption could be lost if the pressure and impending lawsuits occur.

This is not a good time for the fundamental Christian values, I'm afraid.

 

If it comes to that, we will certainly give up tax exempt status, and even go to prison if necessary.

 

I fully agree with you here. But I also think it goes deeper than that. Not only preaching against homosexuality, but keeping those that openly avow and advance that lifestyle from serving in positions of authority in the church as well.

The church will be compelled (finally?) to stand bodly for what it believes and suffer the consequences if it does. I have already told the church they need to start setting aside money now, for if it is passed it won't be that much longer before every church will have to face up to it, or bow at the altar of tolerance....Ministers will be fired for standing up for right and replaced by those ho have itching ears...it will cross against every denomination and ethnicity.

 

The Army is a values based organization, and the role of the chaplain is not just for religion, but also to help support the morale of the soldiers. The chaplain provides counseling services, sometimes using religion; sometimes not-whichever one feels more comfortable with.
Soldiers facing combat are filled with fear and trepidation, and it is ackward to express fear with your fellow squad members. A chaplain provides an suitable outlet for discussing your problems.
Army chaplains are all trained 'the Army way'. That is, they bring whatever religious and moral foundations, but then the army covers specific rules, procedures, methods - doctrine- a way of doing their job. Listening to soldiers is part of their job, along with sensing the morale and providing advice to their commander. Chaplain bring a calming effect to the unit.

The army is a reflection of society and it's makeup. Since the army is made up of every conceivable religious denomination, it's makes sense organizationally to have respective chaplains once a certain density is acheived. You'd be amazed at all the different religions soldiers have on their dog-tags...

Many of you might find this interesting, but regardless of one's individual religion, nearly every official function in the Army, starts and/or ends with the unit chaplain providing a prayer. Whether it's a change-of-command, and unit deployment or redployment, a basic training graduation, unit formal mess (dinner), there's always a prayer. Mostly Christian chaplains (once had an Army Rabbi), Who knows- in the near future, we might have a Hindu or Moslem prayer. Nobody in the Army feels it's a big deal. Kind words are kind word, regardless of who's speaking.

S. Farrar
84th Chemical Battalion
Ft. Leonard Wood

 

Hi Rolla (or should I call you "S") -
This was a good posting. Informative, to the point and it made good sense.
Jack

 

So what happens when a soldier goes to his Buddhist chaplain and says, "Since your arrival, I have been reading Buddhist texts, and find myself in total agreement with them. Therefore I am now unalterably opposed to taking the life of any sentient being, from the enemy there across the river shooting at us, to the cow served up on our dinner table, to the anopheles mosquitos swarming over there by my tent. What shall I do?"

When we were camping on the shore of Lake Manasarovar in western Tibet, as the sun rose, the sand flies swarmed in astonishing numbers. We were literally covered with them, no skin visible. Our group leader, Robert Thurman, said, "If you are truly a Buddhist, and accept the notion of infinite life -- forward and backward -- and the notion of reincarnation, it follows logically that every sentient being now alive was, at one time in the past, every other sentient being. In other words, every one of these flies was once your mother, so don't swat them."

 

Did they?

 

I wondered about this when this thread first began. When I questioned the few Bahai's I knew on some posts about this, I was told they were loyal patriotic Americans who joined but went into non-combatant fields. One was an amoist (medic) and the other was a public information specialist.

 

It depended on whether or not they hated their mothers.