First Armed Forces Buddhist Chaplain Commissioned

If a soldier has a change of heart about their military duty, then your Army bureaucracy has a process for changing one's specialty from a combat soldier to a become a medic. All soldiers can also seek to transfer their duties to something 'less violent', like automation clerk (or even a chaplain's assistant). In Iraq and Afghanistan, however, the supporting units (truck drivers, ambulances, headquarter command posts) are the best targets for the remaining fighters. So everyone must be ready to defend themselves and friends.

Buddhists don't fight? The U.S. Army's 442d Combat Team during WWII was composed of entirely of Japanese Americans (except for the original officers), and was the most courageous and highly decorated combat unit in our military history. Predominately Buddhist (and authorized a Buddhist chaplain-60 years ago), these patriots fought and died for our country, despite the fact that the government interned their families and dissolved their assets.

Nonetheless, I see your point. Your Army has soldiers who become conscientious objectors all the time, but who still want to help out the effort. I've only seen them become medics.

Scott Farrar
84th Chemical Battalion
U.S. Army Chemical School

 

Oh oh Vladica Russell made a funny. The synod is so far from giving a rat's heinie about distance education...

Actually, there is no difficulty whatever concerning discussions or any form of study qua study. We draw what we think is the Scriptural line in matters of joint worship: none of any kind without total doctrinal agreement. End of explanation, will not debate on this thread.

Also, I have no quarrel with the sociological benefits which may accrue from chaplains or counselors being available within the military. The US military is not responsible for proclaiming the Gospel or maintaining purity of doctrine or true unity in worship. It is responsible for defending the US and thwarting our enemies. If the military wishes to have chaplains on its own terms to help it accomplish its purposes more smoothly, well and good. But that is one of Caesar's decisions.

 

Here is some "Gee Whiz" information about the Army and Army Chaplains:

The Christian Chaplain wears a Cross on his hat, the Muslim - a silver Crescent, and the Rabbi - two tablets of the Ten Commandments.

I just spoke with a Chaplain yesterday and we discussed this post about the first Buddhist chaplain. He told me:

There are 4000 Muslims in the Army.

The Army is critically short of Catholic priests. However, he said that the Army will allow an Anglican priest to be a Catholic Chaplain. The Army recognizes that there is a political difference between the the Church of England and Rome, but not a religious one. So in the Army you can be a Catholic Chaplain with a wife and kids.

Some observations I have seen:

Sometimes there are major disagreements between Catholics and Protestants on installations. The disagreement is that the Catholics hog the chapel space and time because they have too many sacraments. I actually heard this complaint.

A lot of new soldiers are entering the service as Wiccans, Pagans, Celtic, and Druids, etc. I think most of them do for the shock value. "Hey, let's upset our Bible thumper colonel". I was in a unit where are Alpha Battery was nicknamed the Pagan Battery. They freaked out our Methodist chaplain at 29 Palms, when they asked him if they could have Spring Equinox ceremony.

Most services on post are divided up as follows:
Catholic
Collective Protestant (Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian)
Pentecostal
Maybe a Mormon, Orthodox, or Adventist service
Usually see a Muslim Prayer Room setup whereever I go

Many Chaplains are concerned because too many soldiers put "No Preference" on their ID tags (dog tags). What you are telling the government with that message is "dispose of properly".

Personnally, I am still trying to figure out my faith. I was raised as a Catholic. I went to a Unitarian Universalist church in Tacoma and in Lawton, Oklahoma for a few years. Now, I am leaning towards the Disciples of Christ.

Take care and may your God/Deity/Creator bless you.

 

Interesting stuff. Thanks.

Be careful there in the Balkans. Avoid relatives of mine.

 

Wrong thread is for Balkan stuff. Sorry.