Mandatory Prayer in the Army. (Reupload)

Almost daily Atheist Soldiers,Sailors, Marines and Airmen are forced to participate in group prayer, by tax-paid clergymen (Chaplains) in military ceremonies. Is this a violation of the establishment clause of the first amendment? No separation of church and state visible here. It seems those first to fight to secure basic human rights are the last to enjoy them.

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[VicGeorge2K6]

Well, what are you suggesting? That there shouldn't be any prayer at all for a service? It's one thing for wanting freedom of religion, it's another when an atheist decides to become a Knight Templar demanding the world to give up religion for atheism.

[jacobreinvented]

@VicGeorge2K6 That's not what I am suggesting at all. As I indicated in the video my problem is non-believers being forced to participate. If they would release anyone who was not interested in prayer from formations with mandatory group prayer that would be a good start. If they would lead prayer at voluntary religious services in the chapels, that would be better. No one is saying that service members should not be able to pray, only that they should not be forced to.

[Maxdwolf]

I see this as coming to a head some time in the future as the percentage of atheists and other belief systems such as Wiccans and Muslims continues to grow. I appreciate your service and wish you the best of luck.

[jacobreinvented]

@Maxdwolf Thanks. I'll be doing my best to see that it comes to a head sooner rather than later.

[jacobreinvented]

@recyard12x Actually, in the oath of appointment as a warrant officer one swears to obey the "lawful orders of those appointed over me"- look it up. It is not legal to order a Soldier to pray. To do so violates the supreme law of the land: that Constitution, which guarantees all Americans freedom of religious thought and expression, even those who fight to secure these freedoms. No, especially them.

[jacobreinvented]

@recyard12x I am currently stationed in the 12th Combat Aviation Regiment, Katterbach, Germany, am in my 17th year of consecutive active service, spent 12 years enlisted Tank Crewman (19K) making it to E-7 before being appointed a warrant officer and attending flight school. I have been deployed 4 times and done as much to serve my country as anyone I know. My Officer Record Brief (with SSN blocked out) is available by email upon request. There are indeed atheists in foxholes.

[jonny7748]

As someone with dual citizenship between the USA and Israel, I would never bow to anything and you are not alone. Living with it daily, seeing the compulsions should be mandatory for those who want to proselytize. For example, maybe let them see the diversity of lunacy in Jerusalem for a few months and then see how many still "believe." I was done with nationalism a long time ago and those on the ground know who we serve, each other regardless of any diluted belief systems.

[AmokBR]

How can you be a Christian and be in the army? I thought "thou shall not kill" and love are important in Christianity. Doesn't hurting other people go completely against what Jesus taught?

[stringsbytoby]

I am a Chaplain Assistant in the USAF. I also happen to be an Atheist. I never cared much for prayer in a public setting, but for a different reason. For me it was a personal discomfort. I commended a chaplain once for personalizing the prayer as though he was the only one praying and everyone else was just observing. Until I watched this video, I didn't realize that the public image results in making us all look like religious soldiers. I will be bringing this up the chain. Thanks

[futureorreligion]

@MarkArandjus

If Christians actually decided read all bible without glossing over repulsive passages, by the time they reached the end, most of them would be seriously doubting validity of their beliefs. Then, if apologetic pastors didnt get to them in time to reinforce brainwashing, many more would become atheists.

[whiteowl1415]

@thenvdude

Out of the military now, but in regards to my eventual death,

I have told my wife I am to be cremated and, if at all possible, have the asshes mixed with the gunpowerder of sky rockets, to be fired out over the ocean at midnight as the cliamx of a party with a live band.

[MarkArandjus]

Separating church & state is not anti-religion, it's religious neutrality - It's not fair to have one ceremony when you have other religious people and atheists in the bunch. Everyone should be treated the same and since it's not practical to have many ceremonies, there should be none.

Besides if 'christians' read the bible; it is forbidden to pray in public as it leads to religious poseurs (Mt 6:5), that's why Christians are instructed to pray in solitude with God as their witness. (Mt 6:6)

[VideoAudioDisco09]

You can always pick an Atheists in combat. They do not believe there is a God protecting them, they know they have one life to give for service and no afterlife. So they are the ones who take cover and jump in foxholes because they have no deity protecting them.