Friday, December 21, 2007

Onward Christian Soldier

They really want this to be a holy war, don't they?

A video made by Campus Crusade for Christ, a Christian ministry group, shows Air Force Academy cadets being pressured to participate in religious activities and become "government paid missionaries when they leave."

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), which released the video this week, says the video is "absolutely out of control."

"You cannot engage the U.S. government to propel your religion," said Weinstein.

[snip]

"Our purpose for Campus Crusade for Christ at the Air Force Academy is to make Jesus Christ the issue at the Air Force Academy and around the world," says Scott Blum, the former Academy Campus Crusade for Christ director, who had no previous military experience but -- according to the video -- always "knew that God called him to invest in the lives of military men and women."

As a Church choir sings in the background, the video's narrator asserts that "each year, cadets are recognizing God's call which will make an impact in the present ... and for eternity."

Weinstein says the video is only one item on a "long menu" of unconstitutional evangelism going on in the military. The MRFF compiled a six month investigative report in 2007 on the Christian group, focusing on the group's Fort Jackson "God Basic Training" that they allege teaches the recruits that "when you join the military, you've really joined the ministry."




AndWatertiger of Dependable Renegade has the perfect picture.

2 comments:

Steve Bates said...

I sang in that chapel with my high school chorus. I hope you'll forgive me.

Constitutionally, what is shown happening in that promo video is completely out of line. But it is clearly nothing new, and by no means confined to cadets.

Besides, did you notice those cadets? They're all so... white...

ellroon said...

Of course I'll forgive you anything, Steve! Look at how you turned out!

White? Isn't that closer to the angels or something?