The New York Times (About.com's parent company) reports that despite efforts by the military to "enforce tougher restrictions on proselytizing and religious bias," there's still an undercurrent of hostility towards members of the armed forces who aren't Christian. Administrative members have worked hard to train chaplains and officers in promoting an attitude of religious diversity, but the fact remains that many military personnel see a culture of “forced religion” in the military. In fact, many say that the problem has continued, and that private religious-based groups have a lot of influence on military bases.
Members of the non-profit Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) say that the lines between secular and religious issues are often blurred in the armed forces. In a press release last week, the Pentagon said that the Department of Defense "had received 50 complaints of religious discrimination from all of the branches from 2005 to 2007." However, MRFF's Mikey Weinstein says his group gets around 500 complaints a month. That's a pretty big difference from what the Pentagon claims.
Members of the non-profit Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) say that the lines between secular and religious issues are often blurred in the armed forces. In a press release last week, the Pentagon said that the Department of Defense "had received 50 complaints of religious discrimination from all of the branches from 2005 to 2007." However, MRFF's Mikey Weinstein says his group gets around 500 complaints a month. That's a pretty big difference from what the Pentagon claims.
So much for freedom of speech, religion, and all the other “freedoms” this country was based on.
At least the military is trying. Changing years of bias isn’t easy & it takes time. The U.S. isn’t perfect but it’s improving. Maybe the country is taking small steps towards ensuring the various freedoms the founders idealized but each step forward is a good thing.
Realize that the discrimination is not institutional. This is the result of overzealous people who sometimes end up in charge and pressure those below them to conform to their beliefs. The military itself doesn’t allow for it but the people in the military are no different than others in society – they sometimes push their own beliefs.
I served in the Army for 22 years as a pagan. The regulations in the Army contradict themselves and it has not changed.
Soldiers are allowed to be any religon they want. as for any religon in the military you cannont practice it with out proper clergy, hence the problems for wiccans and pagans, whose clergy do not meet the criteria for the US Military.
I work in an office that is sloely guided by religon. I have a MSG and MAJ that are both heavy in to it and I am just the opposite. Now I get it that I just don’t have the rank to have my own beliefs but do I have to take on thiers? I am here in Iraq now because of a religious war just to be forced into it everyday? I feel it a moral killer for me but I am just one person. If the shoe was on the other foot everyone would be up in arms for the so called church people. Just goes to show damned if you don’t believe.
trying to change? that is a laugh. i am on restriction right now for practicing. and now i am told i dont get samhain, you call it halloween, as a day to attune myself with the elemental forces. my dog tags have never been able to read wicca, my service record even reads no religious preference. what kind of game is the navy trying to pull on pagans now adays?
Although there is still problems with some members of the military when it comes to alternate religious practices. I will say that on Ramstein Air Base we do have meetings every Saturday in the North side Chapel between 19-2100. I am one of two persons that are sponsored and recognised to represent this group. Many Pagans fear retribution and remain in the broom closet which is part of the problem. Not only are we registered with the Air Force, we are also listed with HQ US Army Europe. If you seek a group in your area or even others for contact, I find witchvox.com to be a good source. If we do not stand up to be recognised, how can we expect that others recognise that we are here in numbers? It is easy to blame others for not offering a hand to us but often the helping hand one seeks is located at the end of their own arm. The military and government in general are systems. Do not fight them, use them.