Air Force Academy: chapel for Wiccans, Druids.etc

Not in the Marines, Thank God.

 

And that's what makes the USA so great!

 

Jim Jones missed the boat. All he needed was a "chapel" at the military academy. No tellin' how many cadets he could have induced to die for him.

 

Good stuff. If the state is going to cater to one religion they must cater to all.

 

For what its worth the Air Force Academy has a significant, and I mean large percentage, of their study body that are committed Christians. Of all of the service academies they have one of the most spiritually vibrant student leadership groups I've encountered. It's a really amazing place.

But that doesn't mean there aren't going to be minority religious groups. The Academy is a state run school. Their chapel was built with public funds. Due to the nature of our country and government equal access is part of our way of life.

As followers of Christ, and Baptists specifically, we should be fans of religious liberty.

 

I don't consider wiccan a religion at all.

This opens the door for every crackpot that comes along to get their own chapel to pay homage to all sorts of animals, insects, plant life, dead people and all kinds of alien lifeforms. What will they do when one comes along that demands human sacrifice?

If it's called a "religion", no matter what they worship and how they do it, we have to give them their place. Right?

 

That's very strange.

Paganism has been with us since nearly the beginning of humankind. The Old Testament prophets railed against the pagan altars in the high places and the practices of those who rejected God.

The Wiccan religion, although the version usually practiced today is very modern in method, is a very old philosophy and belief system.

 

That would be illegal. The First Amendment does not give one the right to break the law. This was pretty much established when the Mormons wanted their polygamous practice protected.

Paganism is an ancient belief. Their practices are indeed protected by the First Amendment. I, for one, and grateful for true freedom of religion.

 

Then why don't we give every pagan cult a chapel at the Air Force Academy so they can be treated fairly? Are they somehow more worthy than any number of animist cults that have existed for thousands of years? I under stand there are still those that worship as the Aztecs, human sacrifice and all.

Why not give them a chapel as well. Maybe cadets could watch them offer up sacrifices and become hardened to the taking of human life. Might be good training. :thumbs:

 

Who said the law couldn't mean the taking of a human life in any way but as a protected practise of religion.

Is that some kind of law based on Judeo Christian beliefs? Who decided human life was sacred, The Druids or the Wiccans?

 

It seems that this outdoor chapel was designed for just that. Most base chapels are shared by several groups as well.

So how would you determine which groups are worth the protection of the First Amendment?

I prefer to fall out on the side of freedom.

 

By all means, let's give Druids a place to worship:


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090320-druids-sacrifice-cannibalism.html

 

If an actual place paid for by taxpayer dollars is not provided, does that mean they don't have the freedom to worship as they please.

Before taxpayer dollars are spent , a cult should have to show that there are enough of their cult attending that institution to justify the expense. Was that done?

 

From the link in the OP the druids apparently are happy with this chapel.

From the size of the crowd in the article it looks well attended.

The Mormon polygamy question long ago established that religious practices contrary to US law are not covered by the First Amendment. That issue is settled already. Human sacrifice and cannibalism would not be protected. That point is a non-issue.

So, if there were a base where there were not enough evangelical Christians to justify a chapel one would not need to be provided?

Plus, the other chaplains supported the construction of the chapel. Looks like these guys understand the importance of religious freedom.

 

I guess it is okay for pagan taxes to pay for a chapel for 'us' but not okay for our tax money to be used to build a chapel fir them?

This is part of the reason I favour a secular state that allows but does not fincially support religious worship.

 

What is coming is a ban on any all religious activities that even remotely resemble an endorsement of religion? That's the only reasonable answer to Carpo's objection. What's fair for Christians should be fair other religious groups. And, perhaps the fairest thing would be to eliminate religious activities in government buildings all together. It's sad that our country has moved so far from her heritage when witches and homosexuals have enough clout in United States to demand equal access.

 

The truth is that 'they' are tax paying Americans just like we are with the same rights and privileges.

That is as it should be.

Total separation of church and state. That is the answer.