I speak as an Air Force spouse (a closet almost-pacifist, too/i reserve the right to have my realist moments trump idealism) married to woman sold on universal health care and free clinics. And while I know there are some crazy chaplains (written about here, http://unorthodoxology.blogspot.com/2008/04/out-in-crowd.html#comments) and the services I’ve been to on-bases tend to be “Our Truth is Marching On” songs, I also know of some positive chaplains who do great work with domestic violence, etc., and interreligious work (i’m thinking of a Jewish chaplain).

Agreed, there is a problem when people start going nuts thinking that it is God’s mission for us to fight Islam, but know that there is more to the picture of the military (particularly with the number of immigrants), religion and purpose.

I agree that Christians taking up arms because they feel God is calling them to do so is exactly what Islamic extremists, who our nation deems terrorists, are doing. One thing that stuck out to me as I did an ethics project on war movies last semester, was the underriding assumption in every single war effort, every movie, whether stated explicitly or not, the given that God is on our side…the U.S. that is. It’s a scary continuation of the pilgrim-age belief that the U.S. is God’s chosen people to save the world. I need to stop commenting before I throw up all over my computer.

I’ve been aware of this for a while, because my brother, an atheist, has been in the Army or the National Guard for 24 years now. He’s talked about how fundamentalist chaplains have at times been obsessed with the idea of trying to convert him.

He doesn’t mind too much, because he thinks arguments are the most entertaining thing in the world. His biggest complaint is that the more fundamental the chaplain the more they assume that the only reason he’s an atheist is that he hasn’t really thought about the options.

Given his degree in philosophy, that’s not really a safe assumption.

Anyway, I agree on the Manifest Destiny thing with the army…actually, if I wasn’t sitting here writing you a comment I’d be writing a paper about it. It’s called “American Christendom: On Christianity in a Position of Power.” So the title sounds good, but that’s about all it has going for it right now. The whole thing is fairly depressing (the state of the paper and its subject matter!), but I think it’s really important. I’m trying to figure out where the line is between Christianity and America, and how to encourage being a true follower of Christ without letting our political allegiances get in the way. If the Kingdom of God is here but not yet fully realized, how do we live in it while recognizing the fact that there’s still evil and suffering going on? How do we love our enemy when they’re killing our neighbor?

So yeah, I think you’re right about the unfortunate connection between evangelical Christians and the army.

Happy studying!