Religion in the Armed Forces???

[Engyo]

Air Force probes religious bias charges at academy

Cadet complaints are rising at Colorado school, officials say

From Mike Mount
CNN Washington Bureau
Tuesday, May 3, 2005 Posted: 8:18 PM EDT (0018 GMT)


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Air Force said Tuesday it will appoint a task force to investigate allegations of religious intolerance at the Air Force Academy.

Among the items to be reviewed will be Air Force policy and guidance concerning religious respect and tolerance at the academy, said acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael Dominguez.

Some 55 complaints of religious discrimination have been filed going back to 2001, prompting school officials to require that all 9,000 cadets and faculty and staff members take a 50-minute course on religious sensitivity, academy officials said.

In addition, a report last week by a Washington-based religious liberty group accused cadets and staff members of creating a climate that discriminated against non-Christians at the academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"We have concluded that both the specific violations and the promotion of a culture of official religious intolerance are pervasive, systematic and evident at the very highest levels of the academy's command structure," said the report from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

---------balance of article at------------------
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/03/airforce.religion/index.html

 

[robtex]

I read that article on CNN. I don't want to make a fast call cause I was never in the service. I would see in general how many would turn to God for protection and comfort while serving. Be interesting to get feedback from forum members who have served.

 

[niamhwitch]

Be interesting to get feedback from forum members who have served.

Well, I personally have never served, but I was raised in the military and my husband is currently in the military. My husband is also Wiccan, like myself. I think I can honestly say that since I have known him there has never been any religious discrimination shown toward my husband at work, and pretty much everyone there knows of his religious affiliation. I'm not sure if there were any instances in the past (he has been in the military longer than I have known him), but as far as I know all that has occured at his work regarding his religion is some friendly debates with some of his Christian co-workers, lol... but when I get home (I'm at work), I will ask him if he has ever experienced religious discrimination and I'll let yall know what he says.