Thursday, February 24, 2005

GI Jesus

For anyone who regularly reads my blog, you know that I am anything but anti-military. A strong and efficient military is vital to the defense of our nation and interests around the world. I even almost ended up in the Air Force 2 different times, but this goes too far for me. Now the US military is promoting "men's night out" events at churches and using them as recruitment functions. Invading places of worship that teach peace and love is no place to recruit for war. Even more disturbing was that the recruiters used images of Jesus Christ in their presentation. This is an attack on my religion and faith.

See the picture show for yourself at shlonkom bakazay

5 comments:

SC&A said...

I'm not sure what you describe qualifies as the disaster you say.

We expect our religious institutions to take a stand- certainly, many have spoken out for and against the war.

If indeed clergy can call for service members to leave the military, surely they can, on the other side, endorse the military. In WW2, religious institutions played a large role in supporting the military. Of course, there were many that didn't- Quakers, etc. They weren't chastised for taking an opposite view from the vast majority of the American religious establishment.

SC&A said...

Boomr, excellent rebuttal, with some provisos.

Nevertheless, as long as religion plays a role in public life (and it always has, whether we acknowledge that or not), we have to be prepared for the fact that the 'state' can and will influence religious doctine- as the religious establishment has influenced state doctrine, by it's vey mandate.

That said, it is not just this President- but every President that has 'used' the church to it's own ends.

For example, churches regularly endorese candidates, with the expectation that those candidates, if elected, will push their agenda.

Now, in reality, it seems that you object to the agenda in question- not the activity.

In any event, those realities aside, the fact that there is tension, I think, is a good thing.

SC&A said...

Once again, Boomr, excellent points. In fact, Im not in that much disagreement with you- save for the reality of the world we live.

All things being equal, I would agree that having the govt attend to it's business in our Houses of Worship makes me uncomfortable- hence my earlier words that I think the tension is a good one.

Now, as to killing being antithetical to religion- well, that is a given. Nevertheless, even in religious philosophies there is such a thing as a 'just war'- and those are fought without reservation. Now, Im not making such a claim at the moment. I mention that for illustrative puposes only- to point out thar religion and politics can intersect.

Anyway, I'd like to pursue this. Forgive me if my responses are spotty and a bit erratic at times.

There is only one thing worse than religion and politics- yup, real life rears it;s ugly head from time to time.

Thanks Dingo, for allowing us the space to hash it all out.

Boomr, we'll pick this up later.

Dingo said...

geesh... I take one day off to move apartments and I miss all of the fun...

Dingo said...

geesh... I take one day off to move apartments and I miss all of the fun...