{"id":15336,"date":"2012-07-18T12:10:08","date_gmt":"2012-07-18T18:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=15336"},"modified":"2016-09-30T17:06:19","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T21:06:19","slug":"renewed-debate-over-proselytizing-at-air-force-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2012\/07\/renewed-debate-over-proselytizing-at-air-force-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewed debate over “proselytizing” at Air Force Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Details:\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The long-smoldering debate at the U.S. Air Force Academy over the role of religion in cadets\u2019 lives has reignited, just as a new class arrives on campus for basic training.<\/p>\n

Accusations of improper proselytizing on the Colorado Springs, Colo., campus have been challenged by those who argue that AFA guidelines curtail religious expression.<\/p>\n

The two sides recently clashed over a letter from 66 House Republicans urging Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to investigate the USAF\u2019s growing \u201chostility toward religious freedom\u201d under guidelines set last September by USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.<\/p>\n

In response to allegations of proselytizing, Schwarz mandated that only chaplains could endorse religious programs.<\/p>\n

But the congressional letter argues that the new policy goes too far.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we agree that leaders should not use their positions to impose their religious beliefs or extend preferential treatment to those who share their beliefs, the decisions that have been made in reliance upon this policy go beyond what is required by the U.S. Constitution,\u201d the letter reads.<\/p>\n

The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a conservative Christian organization representing evangelical chaplains, applauded the letter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with a commander attending, even publicizing and encouraging \u2026 a good and positive event for the morale and the welfare of military personnel,\u201d said executive director and retired Col. Ron Crews, a former chaplain with 28 years of military experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with a commander saying, \u2018This is an event that I support and I am going to.\u2019 You\u2019re encouraged to go, but you are not ordered to go,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n

But David Mullin, a former AFA economics professor, said military culture muddies the distinction between encouragement and orders, so only chaplains should speak on religious matters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a military commander says \u2018you are encouraged to attend,\u2019 whether it is to military officers or civilians, that is an effective order,\u201d Mullin said. This constitutes improper proselytism, he added.<\/p>\n

A self-described evangelical, Mullin is one of the few to openly criticize what he calls an unhealthy religious climate in the AFA. He is represented in court by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a legal watchdog.<\/p>\n

Mullin was one of five academy professors who sued unsuccessfully in January 2011 to stop a school prayer luncheon that would feature as keynote speaker a veteran who calls himself a \u201cU.S. Marine for Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

He alleges his dog was poisoned after he protested about the school\u2019s religious climate later that year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read more.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Details:\u00a0 The long-smoldering debate at the U.S. Air Force Academy over the role of religion in cadets\u2019 lives has reignited, just as a new class arrives on campus for basic training. Accusations of improper proselytizing on the Colorado Springs, Colo., campus have been challenged by those who argue that AFA guidelines curtail religious expression. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1205],"class_list":["post-15336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-air-force-academy"],"yoast_head":"\nRenewed debate over "proselytizing" at Air Force Academy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Details:\u00a0 The long-smoldering debate at the U.S. Air Force Academy over the role of religion in cadets' lives has reignited, just as a new class arrives\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2012\/07\/renewed-debate-over-proselytizing-at-air-force-academy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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