Military to Prosecute GI's for Sharing Faith?

[Salty]

Another question to be asked here is where is there ever any over zealous proselytizing going on that this should even be an issue?

Proselytizing is in the eye of the beholder.

A simple "our church is having a free dinner tomorrow night, would you like to come" might be too much for someone.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Think of in terms of a 3x5 card with "Calvary Baptist Church is having a Memorial Day Picnic at 1330 Monday. All service members are invited." posted on the Post Chapel's bulletin board.

Proselytizing is in the eye of the beholder.

A simple "our church is having a free dinner tomorrow night, would you like to come" might be too much for someone.

 

[just-want-peace]

Another question to be asked here is where is there ever any over zealous proselytizing going on that this should even be an issue?

Perhaps a trial balloon to test the public response!

Further action to be determined by the public outcry, or lack thereof?!

 

[Revmitchell]

Proselytizing is in the eye of the beholder.

A simple "our church is having a free dinner tomorrow night, would you like to come" might be too much for someone.

Which is a very good point. So it is possible that someone in the Military could be prosecuted because of claims from militants like Mikey for little to no reason.

 

[Revmitchell]

Perhaps a trial balloon to test the public response!

Further action to be determined by the public outcry, or lack thereof?!

That is what I am concerned about.

 

[Revmitchell]

... After a series of speakers addressed those gathered at the Cannon Office Building, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. William D. Lee, took the microphone to represent Americans serving in the military. Lee told the crowd he had 10 minutes of carefully prepared remarks, but he decided to leave them in his chair and “speak from the heart” instead. Lee, who described himself as “a man of deep abiding faith who happens to wear a uniform,” went on to defy any efforts to stop military personnel from openly sharing their Christian faith—a topic sparking widespread controversy in the media this week. (See “Religious battle lines" by Edward Lee Pitts.)

Lee mentioned last year’s record high number of military suicides, 349—roughly one per day—and said every 65 minutes a military veteran will take his or her own life. “I want you to remember that number,” he said.

He recounted a recent meeting with a 24-year-old soldier who had attempted suicide but survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Lee said when he heard the man’s story, he knew the rules said he should send the man to a chaplain, but his heart said to give him a Bible.

“The lawyers tell me that if I do that, I’m crossing the line,” Lee said. “I’m so glad I’ve crossed that line so many times.”

Lee pledged not to back down from “my right under the Constitution to tell a young man that there is hope.”

Lee received several standing ovations during his brief remarks. He requested prayer for Christian military personnel to “weather the storm that I am almost certain will come.”

http://www.worldmag.com/2013/05/rear_admiral_vows_to_continue_sharing_faith

 

[annsni]

... After a series of speakers addressed those gathered at the Cannon Office Building, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. William D. Lee, took the microphone to represent Americans serving in the military. Lee told the crowd he had 10 minutes of carefully prepared remarks, but he decided to leave them in his chair and “speak from the heart” instead. Lee, who described himself as “a man of deep abiding faith who happens to wear a uniform,” went on to defy any efforts to stop military personnel from openly sharing their Christian faith—a topic sparking widespread controversy in the media this week. (See “Religious battle lines" by Edward Lee Pitts.)

Lee mentioned last year’s record high number of military suicides, 349—roughly one per day—and said every 65 minutes a military veteran will take his or her own life. “I want you to remember that number,” he said.

He recounted a recent meeting with a 24-year-old soldier who had attempted suicide but survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Lee said when he heard the man’s story, he knew the rules said he should send the man to a chaplain, but his heart said to give him a Bible.

“The lawyers tell me that if I do that, I’m crossing the line,” Lee said. “I’m so glad I’ve crossed that line so many times.”

Lee pledged not to back down from “my right under the Constitution to tell a young man that there is hope.”

Lee received several standing ovations during his brief remarks. He requested prayer for Christian military personnel to “weather the storm that I am almost certain will come.”

http://www.worldmag.com/2013/05/rear_admiral_vows_to_continue_sharing_faith

Was this man ever reprimanded for doing what he did? If not, what's the issue? He is allowed to do what he did.

 

[Salty]

In the "Just for your information" department - Rear Adm. William D. Lee is in the Coast Guard, which currently is in the Dept of Homeland Security. NOT Dep of Defense- (unless directed by the POTUS)
However they are subject to the UCMJ - so they are, but are not military.

Was this man ever reprimanded for doing what he did? If not, what's the issue? He is allowed to do what he did.

I did a quick goggle - did not find anything....

 

[Revmitchell]

Was this man ever reprimanded for doing what he did? If not, what's the issue? He is allowed to do what he did.

Ann you need to read all the info. The question here is not the long standing position but the recent meeting the Pentagon had with a militant atheist on this issue to give new consideration to this policy.

And with the recent statements given such as:

In an official statement yesterday, Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a spokesman for the Pentagon’s Defense Press Office, responded to Breitbart News’ reports by saying, “Service members can share their faith (evangelize), but must not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith to one’s beliefs (proselytization).”

There is a problem because those two words mean exactly the same thing.

pros·e·lyt·ize
[pros-uh-li-tahyz] Show IPA
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), pros·e·lyt·ized, pros·e·lyt·iz·ing.
to convert or attempt to convert as a proselyte; recruit.

e·van·ge·lize
[ih-van-juh-lahyz] Show IPA verb, e·van·ge·lized, e·van·ge·liz·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to preach the gospel to.
2.
to convert to Christianity.
verb (used without object)
3.
to preach the gospel; act as an evangelist.

There is no difference here. It appears this is another game of "it all depends on what is, is".

 

[annsni]

Ann you need to read all the info. The question here is not the long standing position but the recent meeting the Pentagon had with a militant atheist on this issue to give new consideration to this policy.

And with the recent statements given such as:




There is a problem because those two words mean exactly the same thing.






There is no difference here. It appears this is another game of "it all depends on what is, is".

See, I see a big difference. One is forcing, the other is offering.

 

[Revmitchell]

See, I see a big difference. One is forcing, the other is offering.

Where in those definitions is it different. Where in those definitions does it say anything about forcing anyone.

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

The Guy Is A SNAKE

Ann you need to read all the info. The question here is not the long standing position but the recent meeting the Pentagon had with a militant atheist on this issue to give new consideration to this policy.

And with the recent statements given such as:

There is a problem because those two words mean exactly the same thing.


There is no difference here. It appears this is another game of "it all depends on what is, is".

O'Reilly (Who I'm NOT a big fan of) had this Weinstein guy on "the Factor" last night and I have never heard so much double-talk in all my life. The man is a 1st class godless SNAKE who hates God and everybody that loves God. See their website here: Military Religious Freedom Foundation - Protecting the Constitutional Guarante (Read Weinstein's two-line "statement of faith" just below the Title Line on his homepage) This guy is slicker than hog-snot on a door knob. He will now benefit even more from the publicity that O'Reilly and FNC have given him ( and he will "spin" it in his favor.

Bro.Greg:saint:

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

How Can You Be SO Certain?

See, I see a big difference. One is forcing, the other is offering.

Ann ...you know as well I do that essentially speaking...even though we may get somewhat "forceful" in our witnessing because of the sometimes confrontational nature of it (it IS a basically one-on-one activity that by it's nature seeks "to convert" others to OUR faith)....we can't actually FORCE anyone to believe anything. The intent of Weinstein and his ilk is to completely "squelch" the conversation altogether...and all though they won't openly or willingly admit it...most of their effort to silence "religious discourse" in the military is aimed at EVANGELISTIC Bible-believing Christians who see it as their commanded duty to fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ. They(Weinstein and the MRFF) are simply doing what they feel empowered to do by the current leftist agenda of the godless administration that is in political power in this country. Obama and his ilk have "changed the game" and the atheist vultures are circling overhead. The only real blessings left to this country now are the remnant of God-fearing, Bible-Believing through which the truth is still being preached. As we advance towards the already predicted cycle of events of the end-times things are only going to get worse for this sin-soaked world. That's not the happy,happy,joy,joy feel-good message most want to hear these days....but it is the truth. I, for one, take great hope in it because it means that we are nearer than ever before for our ultimate deliverance. Jesus must be coming soon and it is in THAT that I hope! Satan is raging...but God is and always shall be IN CONTROL. Look UP! Do asa the Bible says...."set your affections on things ABOVE...."!

Bro.Greg:saint:

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Much ado about nothing. Apparently, this is all just a bunch of typical Faux News Channel nonsense.
https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-se...lsely-claims-anti-christian-discrimination-by

 

[Squire Robertsson]

As a former Coastie, I regret to say you're wrong. The USCG is most definitely a branch of the US military. Yes, most of the time it's housed in a department other than the DoD (first the Treasury, then Transportation, now DHS) . In time of war it comes under the Navy much like the USMC. FYI, there were Coast Guard cutters deployed to Persian Gulf off Iraq on anti-smuggling patrols. By not being under the DoD, the Coast Guard Commandant was able to pre-deploy CG helicopters for Katrina.

In the "Just for your information" department - Rear Adm. William D. Lee is in the Coast Guard, which currently is in the Dept of Homeland Security. NOT Dep of Defense- (unless directed by the POTUS)
However they are subject to the UCMJ - so they are, but are not military.


I did a quick goggle - did not find anything....

 

[Salty]

As a former Coastie, I regret to say you're wrong. The USCG is most definitely a branch of the US military. Yes, most of the time it's housed in a department other than the DoD ....

Thats like saying the SBC are not Independent Baptist - they are, but they are not.

Not disagreeing with you - Coasties just might be in the twilight zone :smilewinkgrin: but most are still subject to the UCMJ

 

[Squire Robertsson]

All Coast Guardsmen are subject to the UCMJ, from the rawest recruit to the Commandant himself. As for being military, I have a CG DD214 and an American Legion membership to prove it. It's been that way since the founding of the Revenue Marine in 1790 by Alexander Hamilton.

That's like saying the SBC are not Independent Baptist - they are, but they are not.

Not disagreeing with you - Coasties just might be in the twilight zone :smilewinkgrin: but most are still subject to the UCMJ