U.S. Military Warns Chaplains: Stop Proselytizing on General Social Media Pages

[NeoGreen]

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/05/28/u-s-military-warns-chaplains-stop-proselytizing-on-general-social-media-pages/

U.S. Military Warns Chaplains: Stop Proselytizing on General Social Media Pages
By Hemant Mehta, May 28, 2020

For months now, chaplains working for the U.S. military have been posting pro-Christian content on social media websites meant to represent the entire base or branch. One chaplain recently posted a Corinthians-inspired sex “dare” on a Facebook page for an entire military division. Last month, a different division posted videos on Facebook straight-up promoting Christianity.

None of this should be happening, but it all took place because Christians can get away with it. At least at first. After inquiries from a church/state separation group, those posts all came down.

None of that sat well with Mike Berry, general counsel at the right-wing First Liberty Institute, who claimed those chaplains were simply carrying out “their constitutionally mandated mission” and that the military should never have caved to the complaints of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

As usual, he’s wrong. And once again, he’s lost this argument.

According to MRFF’s Chris Rodda, the Army’s Chief of Chaplains office has now issued guidelines to chaplains to prevent future proselytizing.

(snip)

In short, don’t shit in the company pool. The military’s social media pages are not the place for you to promote your religion; do it on your own pages. Don’t shove it down anyone’s throat unless they ask for it.

These should have been the policies from the beginning, but since there will inevitably be outrage from the Christian Right, remember this: The guidelines are neutral, but conservative Christians have a nasty habit of pretending neutrality is anti-Christian. Don’t fall for it.

Worth repeating here:
"...conservative Christians have a nasty habit of pretending neutrality is anti-Christian. Don’t fall for it."

[vlyons]

1. Yes stop pushing your dogma

Not everyone wants to be a Christian. As a Buddhist myself, I get so tired of Christians telling me that their beliefs are the only true beliefs. Buddhists don't proselytize. Someone has to ask for dharma teachings.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. First Amendment prevents government efforts to establish one religion over others or over atheism.nt

[exboyfil]

3. Headline needs to be more specific

Indicating that it is an official government media web page. The chaplains can have their own personal Facebook and Twitter and proselytize on there. The distinction is very important.