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God and the Military

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I've heard of people claiming to be registered as Jedi Knights. Don't know if thats an urban myth
 
Climebear said:
Pecker Head

If that is your belief (or non-belief) then state it. No one really gives a t*ss.

My 'religion' is listed as agnostic and I have several Service friends who list theirs as athiest. It hasn't affected their careers; nor has it affected mine (under 19 years from recruit training at Swinderby to wg cdr).

I also have several friends who are christians (indeed some who are padres) - I respect their religious beliefs and they respect mine.

One of the key elements of being in the Service is moral courage. Do the right thing, not what you think people would prefer you to do.

As a note though - being an athiest doesn't get you out of church parades. You still have to do all that marching stuff but then can wait outside in the cold while the others sit in the warm church doing the religion thing.

Without getting too deep, religion is rarelly (if ever) the cause of wars (neither are tribes). Generally wars are political action (see Clauswitz - war is an extension of politics by other means) whose protagonists use religion (or tribal differences etc) to motivate the masses.
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I was always down as 'agnostic' right from the word go. I really only had one set to during 24 years. Some freedom of the town parade or whatever. I marched up to the church and took a pace sideways at the door. As I was making my way clear, I was met by a baby zob who was intent on "... not letting you embarrass Harry Staish in front of his guests ..." with their funny hats and regalia. "Are you ordering me into church Sir?" I replied in my best QR1001 voice. So instead, I kept an eye on someone who was behaving suspiously in the graveyard. It turned out to be the SWO in civvies with his head down and collar up. "Hello Sir!" "Don't talk to me" he replied "You'll blow my cover, I'm security". :PDT_Xtremez_42:
 
needsabiggerfuse said:
I was always down as 'agnostic' right from the word go. I really only had one set to during 24 years. Some freedom of the town parade or whatever. I marched up to the church and took a pace sideways at the door. As I was making my way clear, I was met by a baby zob who was intent on "... not letting you embarrass Harry Staish in front of his guests ..." with their funny hats and regalia. "Are you ordering me into church Sir?" I replied in my best QR1001 voice. So instead, I kept an eye on someone who was behaving suspiously in the graveyard. It turned out to be the SWO in civvies with his head down and collar up. "Hello Sir!" "Don't talk to me" he replied "You'll blow my cover, I'm security". :PDT_Xtremez_42:
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I always duck out of the church services too. I'll march with the guys in a Rememberance parade, I have nothing but respect and thanks for the guys who lost their lives in past conflicts, but don't want to listen to what IMO is a pile of dark ages tripe they preach in any Church, Mosque, Temple or wherever our diverse parade will be finishing. Saves me a pound too when they pass the plate around. Bonus.
 
Pecker Head

I 'converted' about '93. I was supposed to have an interview with the Padre, but he basically said that if I wanted to be an Atheist that was my business. Enlightened or lazy? I never found out. Instead I was interviewed by my born-again WO who tried to convince me to stick with God as I couldn't turn to Darwin in times of trouble. He also played the 'you'll have to do all the Christmas duties' card. I think things have changed a lot since then. It felt like a major thing when I did it, but I think things have changed since then. Isn't just a case of pressing a few buttons on JPA?

Since then it hasn't been much of a problem. It gets tricky when you get to occasions when religion gets involved, especially Remembrance Sunday. It's only the last few years that I've really put my foot down and refused to attend church services. I usually get from Junior Officers "I'm an Atheist too; I just go through the motions". Yeah, thanks for the leadership. At some posts I've gone to the War Memorial instead of the Church service, which gives me the opportunity to commemorate the sacrifices made by our Grandfathers, whilst pleasing the 'those not on essential duty' miesters. At my current post I volunteered to do the parade instead of the church service, but that involved standing there for hours so every denomination could say their bit. Sadly, the occasional bit of strategic leave planning is required.

It's unfortunate that religion and the armed forces are unavoidably linked. There is just too much opportunity to associate what we do with God; "fighting for God", "God on our side", "dying so others may live", it's unavoidable. I suppose it depends on how dedicated you are to being an Atheist. You could just go with the flow and 'go through the motions' or you could stand up for what you believe in.

As far as the doing all the Christmas/Easter duties go, for a start it is illegal to treat someone in a particular way due to their religion. Anyway, your family and friends are not necessarily Atheists, and regardless of your religion, you should be able to spend the 'holidays' with them.

For more info try http://www.armedforceshumanists.org.uk/index.html

I'm not sure if it's still going, as it hasn't been updated for a while, but it has some good info.

Good luck, and personally, I'd say go for it.
 
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I'm one of them indecisive buggers that doesn't really know. I think that if god did exist then he wouldn't allow the pain and suffering that he does for good people. However with all the bad (well more naughty) things I have done in my life which has pretty much sealed my ticket straight to hell on the day I receive my judgement, I am not brave enough to boldly say I don’t believe. There is still a glimmer of hope that he will forgive all my sins and allow me some wings after all!

On the flip side with regards to remembrance parades, during times in my life when I have floated between the believing and not believing I have always happily went to church.... not to pray to god but as to pay my utmost respect to all the men and women who have given their lives. I know that I don’t have to go to church to do that but I just feel that it is a small thing to do compared with the lives that have been given.

 
RAF Bird said:
I'm one of them indecisive buggers that doesn't really know. I think that if god did exist then he wouldn't allow the pain and suffering that he does for good people. However with all the bad (well more naughty) things I have done in my life which has pretty much sealed my ticket straight to hell on the day I receive my judgement, I am not brave enough to boldly say I don’t believe. There is still a glimmer of hope that he will forgive all my sins and allow me some wings after all!

On the flip side with regards to remembrance parades, during times in my life when I have floated between the believing and not believing I have always happily went to church.... not to pray to god but as to pay my utmost respect to all the men and women who have given their lives. I know that I don’t have to go to church to do that but I just feel that it is a small thing to do compared with the lives that have been given.

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You have just brought a little tear to my eye....................
 
Just found this on JPA

Religion should ideally be shown on your record and you can choose to show 'No Religion' if you wish. You can Update this field as a Self Service User by choosing Miscellaneous Personal Details.

Thanks to those who pointed me in the right direction
 
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