To Pray Or Not To Pray

That is the question… in the military these days.

This week the Air Force issued new guidelines concerning public prayer and religious expression. The guidelines,

caution against promoting any particular faith – or even “the idea of religion over nonreligion” – in official communications or during meetings, sports events or ceremonies.

The guidelines discourage public prayers at official Air Force events or meetings other than worship services – one of the most contentious issues for many commanders. But the guidelines allow for “a brief nonsectarian prayer” at special ceremonies such as those honoring promotions or in “extraordinary circumstances” such as “mass casualties, preparation for imminent combat, and natural disasters.”

So is this a good thing, or not? It’s no secret that the push for these guidelines were brought about by the ultra-evangelical Christian atmosphere at the Air Force Academy.

Mikey Weinstein, a 1977 academy graduate with two sons and a daughter-in-law who have attended the academy, said the new rules leave him with no alternative but to file a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination. “It’s a declaration of war, as far as I’m concerned, on the Constitution,” Weinstein said.

There’s no question where Mr. Weinstein stands, but several Reform Jewish leaders applaud the guidelines. And then there’s a bunch of politicians who disagree about the suggestions (big surprise).

The limits on public prayer are just one aspect of the new guidelines. Most of the concerns from opponents come from worries that troops will be restricted from practicing their faith the way they want to. For instance, will this affect Jewish servicemembers who want to openly wear kippot or tzitzit? What is a good Jewish boy (or girl) to do?

In a country that holds the idea of “separation of church and state” so dear, religion has a unique place in the military. The chaplain corps has been an important part of our military for almost as long as we’ve had a military. Our first Jewish chaplains served as far back as the Civil War. We have always recognized that spiritual guidance and counseling is a necessity in a profession that requires many of us to kill or destroy and put our lives on the line on a regular basis.

The incidents at the AFA are an unfortunate case of those in a position of power abusing their influence. From all of my experience, I don’t think that is a reflection on our military as a whole. Measures are being taken to correct the hostile atmosphere at the AFA, and I’m sure it will affect other locations that might be having similar problems. However, I hope that the response is not the (often typical) knee-jerk reaction that pushes us too far in the opposite direction.

B. Jessie Hill, an assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law who has studied religious expression in government institutions, said the guidelines are “an attempt to comply with what’s constitutionally required and may even go beyond what’s required.”

For example, the United States Supreme Court has in the past upheld military prohibitions on wearing religious headgear, like a Jewish yarmulke, Professor Hill said. “It seems like there’s room to argue here that the Air Force is holding itself to a higher standard” by permitting more religious expression than it even needs to.

She added, “What will be interesting is to see how it’s put into practice.”

I think the focus should be on tolerance for all faiths rather than the removal of religion from all aspects of the military. The stated principles that the AF guidelines are based on seem to be a step in the right direction. However, as Ms. Hill points out, it will be interesting to see the guidelines in practice.

Tell us what you think about all this mishegas.

Additional Sources:

Air Force Press Release

Reform Judaism Press Release

NY Times Story*

Forward Story*

Chicago Tribune Story*

*You can use BugMeNot to bypass the sites that need registration.